HOW Wirtz will TRANSFORM Liverpool Tactically? - Regardless of formation, he should feature centrally - With freedom to roam wide, deep and in behind - Why him? - Post Salah, he becomes the spinal figure... - This another VVD/Alisson moment - core component A THREAD 👇 #LFC
If we look at Liverpool's chief creators outside of Trent, and even Trent for that matter we can see there is no one who truly masters creative play in the efficient or pure volume sense. Salah, Mac Allister, Szobo have elements but it is a collective excercise. Through balls in particular, Liverpool don't really use them super precisely to open up sides.
Wirtz on the other hand is a master of killer passing. He's a chance creation machine whose looking to slide balls in and unlock defences. He is a true 10 and a throwback maestro who takes it on himself to supply his team mates.
He can create from anywhere but generally he wants to pick it up from the left and whilst he is cutting in, use that wand of a right foot to slice open sides with a deft pass or go for goal himself. Why do I want him centrally? because he is one of those 10s who wants to dictate the tempo. Unlike a Bellingham, he is a player who has regista insticts, he feels the flow of the game and can slow or speed up the game for his side... running the midfield on the ball.
I believe that with the signing of Frimpong, Salah will face less burden in wide areas and be tasked to feature more closer to goal and not create from the flank. If Wirtz is a false 9 or even a 10, I believe he will create numerical superiority in midfield regions whilst the WFs will provide the penetration.
I expect plenty of midfield rotations, with Wirtz dropping very deep even into DLP if need be. The only concern with this side is that there is lack of true physical presence up front but one thing Liverpool will not be found wanting on is control. The 4 in midfield look high energy and high in technical quality. Essentially I believe Liverpool will adopt a 4-4-2 diamond and a 2-1-5-2 shape in possession, with two probing forwards up front and full backs providing width.
Hope that helps, I think for next season this looks a pretty solid formation but will cracks begin to emerge when Salah ages? how could Liverpool look like then... I think eventually Wirtz would be confirmed as a 10 and not remain as a false 9. Then the fun will truly begin...