The real Florian Wirtz stands up: Liverpool star’s heat map and one surprise stat turn Arne Slot’s plan on its head
Florian Wirtz was spellbinding for Liverpool against Frankfurt in the Champions League as Arne Slot may have cracked his ideal position.
Prior to the emphatic 5-1 victory, former Man United chief scout Mick Brown exclusively told Football Insider that Liverpool should be worried over the form of Wirtz.
The German has struggled since arriving to the Premier League yet put in a masterful display in the Champions League, reminding the world of his potential.
Wirtz joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer for an eye-watering fee, yet that figure may soon be about to pay off after Slot‘s tactical reshuffle against Frankfurt.
Slot hands Wirtz start in new role with incredible results
Briefly seen in the shambolic 2-1 defeat to Man United on 19 October, the ex-Feyenoord manager experimented with a 4-4-2 as he tried to claim all three points towards the end of the game.
Whilst the result didn’t go in the Reds’ favour, the dynamism of a Hugo Ekitke and Alexander Isak strike partnership did cause United problems.
Clearly a concept Slot has been working on for a while, he unleashed the formation once again against Frankfurt with Wirtz taking up the right-wing spot in place of the struggling Mohamed Salah.
The message was clear: the German would hold the width when out of possession to help Liverpool defend and would then drift into a central free playmaker role in attack.
The tactical decision saw Jeremie Frimpong, and later Conor Bradley, hold the width when they were attacking, allowing Wirtz to drop into the middle of the pitch to influence and dictate the play.
At times he played deeper to affect the initial phases of build-up play, but on other occasions he was almost playing as a second striker.
This wasn’t to say he didn’t play in his “on-paper” right-wing role as he popped up on the right flank to tee up Cody Gakpo’s tap-in in the 66th minute.
Given the Germany international’s struggles this season, being unlocked in a free-roaming role brought out the very best in the talented midfielder as he had the freedom to do what he wanted throughout the match.
The 22-year-old’s heat map, courtesy of Football Insider’s data partnership with Opta, also backs up the notion of him being everywhere on the pitch.
From left to right, the number seven popped up in every pocket in the attacking third, allowing the Reds to dominate the match against Frankfurt in a one-sided victory.
Wirtz’s stats support incredible transformation in new role as Mohamed Salah becomes surplus to requirements
The ex-Leverkusen starlet didn’t just impress on the eye test, but he also wowed in his statistical might.
The midfield maestro racked up four key passes and created two big chances, amassing an expected assists (xA) of 0.56. Surprisingly, he also completed an impressive seven recoveries.
| Selected stats vs Frankfurt (22 October) | Florian Wirtz |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 0.56 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Key passes | 4 |
| Big chances created | 4 |
| Accurate passes (%) | 55/63 (89%) |
| Recoveries | 7 |
Wirtz ended the night on two assists, teeing up Dominik Szboszlai and Gakpo to cap off a wonderful night in Frankfurt.
His passing precision of 89 per cent highlighted the benefit of his new role and being able to deliver inch-perfect balls to his Liverpool teammates.
However, his thrilling performance will trouble Salah who was rightly dropped for the Frankfurt clash.
The Egyptian came on for 16 minutes in the Champions League, spurning two big chances which reinforced his wasteful and shoddy form of late.
Ahead of a tricky away trip to Brentford on 25 October, Slot will be strongly considering leaving the ex-Roma star out once again after the delectable display from Wirtz.
If the German can kick on following a forgettable start then their is a chance the Reds’ number 11 may not return to the starting XI for the foreseeable future.