Florian Wirtz: Tactical Analysis

German attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz arrives at Liverpool with high expectations. This analysis provides a comprehensive overview of his statistics, playing style, and how he might integrate into the English club.

Who is Florian Wirtz?

Born in Stuttgart on May 3, 2003, Florian Wirtz began his football journey at Brauweiler Youth before joining Cologne's academy in 2010. In 2020, Bayer Leverkusen secured his services for a mere 200,000 euros. It was there that he developed into one of the Bundesliga's standout players before becoming the most expensive signing in Premier League history, with Liverpool reportedly signing him for €125 million last week. Let's examine his on-field performance.

An Elite Attacking Midfielder

Compared to other midfielders in the top five leagues, Florian Wirtz clearly excels in attacking performance. He is a versatile footballer proficient in various aspects of the game: dribbling, offensive movements, duels won, and touches in the opponent's box. What truly sets him apart from most midfielders in the seven major leagues is his exceptional average of expected goals and assists (demonstrating his significant involvement in offensive actions), progressive carries (his stride and ball control allow him to showcase remarkable speed), and successful dribbling (both in open spaces and confined areas, with an exceptional turn and the ability to use both feet). He is an agile and skillful offensive player who, when in possession, commands intense attention from opposing teams because he is genuinely one of Europe's finest talents.

Within the Bundesliga, among attacking midfielders and wingers, Wirtz ranks second, only behind Michael Olise. He is dynamic, intelligent, consistent, and fast. He possesses all the qualities necessary to become an era-defining attacking midfielder.

Regarding his usual starting position for Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz started 69% of games in an attacking midfield role, which is his natural position and fits perfectly into Slot's 4-2-3-1 style. However, he is also adaptable, capable of playing on the wings or even as a false nine to create space and intelligently operate behind the defense, making him a dynamic player both in his individual actions and his overall contributions to the team.

The Szoboszlai Dilemma

Wirtz's arrival would particularly impact another player who also came from the Bundesliga and joined with significant expectations: Dominik Szoboszlai. The Hungarian arrived at Liverpool from RB Leipzig with the aim of leading the Reds' attack, showcasing his exceptional ball-carrying skills and excellent long-range shooting. However, his performance in Slot's team has been somewhat inconsistent, leaving room for improvement.

Therefore, Wirtz is poised to dominate the attacking midfield area and further enhance a star-studded Liverpool squad, boasting superior averages and statistics compared to Szoboszlai at the time of his arrival. While both players could potentially coexist in the same starting eleven, with Szoboszlai playing in a deeper role, Wirtz is expected to be the undisputed choice in the attacking midfield position.

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