Florian Wirtz: A Tactical Shift
By Ewan Reid
In a night with several standout performances, it’s the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Conor Bradley who may make the headlines. However, Florian Wirtz was instrumental as a rampant Liverpool performance dismantled Real Madrid, handing Los Blancos their second defeat of the season.
The £116m superstar hasn’t exactly set the world alight so far at Anfield, but it’s not for a lack of trying. During a disappointing league campaign so far for the Reds, Wirtz has been used somewhat sparingly, starting from the bench against Everton, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa. Potentially due to the pace and physicality of the Premier League, he has struggled to impose himself while being utilised as a traditional number 10 or even at times a false nine.
Though, against Real Madrid, the German had without a doubt his best outing in a red shirt to date, creating a total of five chances and unlucky not to register an assist as Dominik Szoboszlai’s close-range effort was kept out by a superb save from Courtois. The Belgian once again a stalwart in the face of a barrage of Liverpool attempts on goal.
In addition to his excellent attacking performance, he also made an impact out of possession: winning four duels, one tackle, one interception, six ball recoveries and covering an admirable 11.37km, further than any other player on the pitch.
But what has changed for Florian Wirtz?
A POSITIONAL SHIFT
In a time of adversity, Liverpool approached the Real Madrid fixture with a point to prove against the Spanish giants. Head coach Arne Slot reverted to the old tactics board, deploying a more familiar 4-3-3 shape. The same setup that saw the Reds race to the league title last season. A key adjustment in this change of system was making a change on the left-hand side, bringing in Florian Wirtz for Cody Gakpo.
However, his role on the left wing was unique. As opposed to a more traditional left winger, hugging the touchline and making runs beyond fullbacks, Wirtz played somewhat of a hybrid role, reminiscent of his Leverkusen days.
(Via Opta, The Analyst)
Given the freedom by Slot to roam the final third, Wirtz made an instant impact. The pass map above highlights the midfielder’s influence in link-up play, often forming fluid triangles with Robertson, Mac Allister, Ekitike and Szoboszlai.
His positional intelligence allowed Liverpool to overload the left-side while retaining balance, bringing McAllister and Robertson into the game in an attacking capacity. When Mac Allister drifted out to the left to progress the ball, Wirtz would push on higher and find space more centrally, often between Valverde and Militao. This allowed him to disrupt the shape of the Real Madrid defence and slip passes into the feet of Hugo Ekitike.
Out of possession, his role changed subtly. Slot tasked him with pressing Madrid’s right-side of defence when Liverpool triggered their high press, while also screening passing lanes from Federico Valverde. It was this dual responsibility, part winger, part midfielder that made his performance so valuable for Liverpool.
Bayer Leverkusen: Allowed to Flo-urish
By positioning Wirtz in this more balanced, transitional role, Slot effectively unlocked the version of the player who thrived under Xabi Alonso: free to create, disciplined without the ball, and constantly operating in the most dangerous spaces on the pitch.
Alonso’s Leverkusen set up in a fluid 3-4-2-1 system with three central defenders, two high-intensity wingbacks, a double pivot in midfield and two advanced midfielders supporting the striker. In this system, Wirtz was utilised as the left-sided attacking midfielder, given freedom to roam the final third, and operate in the spaces between players.
However, due to the explosiveness and directness of Leverkusen’s attacking football, they would often find themselves vulnerable to counter attacks. This resulted in a unique defensive responsibility for Wirtz and the Leverkusen attack.
To combat this, Alonso had a unique rule for his side. Upon losing the ball in the final third, his forwards triggered a five-second counter press in which the striker and two attacking midfielders would aggressively press when the to ensure the opposition couldn’t advance the ball through the midfield.
A hugely successful factor in Leverkusen’s title success, largely due to the efforts of Wirtz individually. The German averaged 1.25 turnovers in the final third per 90, the most among all Bundesliga players last season.
MOVING FORWARD
The high press from Wirtz against Real Madrid was a decisive component of the Reds victory. With six ball recoveries, the number seven kept Liverpool on the front foot, launching fast, calculated attacks and sustaining pressure throughout the match.
This also allowed for the involvement of Andy Robertson in a more advanced role. The Scotsman’s overlaps and underlaps were made possible by Wirtz’s desire to drop deeper into midfield, operating in half-spaces and drawing out the Real Madrid defenders.
Although one of Liverpool’s top performers this season in terms of goals and assists, Cody Gakpo has drawn some criticisms from fans. Most commonly, the predictability of the Dutchman’s desire to cut inside and shoot.
Wirtz’s inclusion, however, introduced a new energy on Liverpool’s left-hand side. His instinct to combine quickly, find vertical passing lanes, and rotate positions fluidly gave Liverpool a more unpredictable method of attack.
Beyond the technical aspects, there was also a visible confidence about his game. The swagger, the flicks, the subtle changes of direction that became his trademark under Alonso were all on display.
The German has been spotlighted this season largely due to fault of his own, rather due to his looming £116 million price tag.
However, if this performance was a glimpse of what’s to come, it may mark the turning point of Wirtz’s Liverpool career. He looked not only like the creative prodigy signed from Leverkusen, but a player beginning to find his place in Slot’s evolving system.