13 Jun 2025 19:36:54
With Wirtz now confirmed and the price being paid, you have to assume he'll be a starter. What is head scratching (for me) is where he'll play and who misses out?
The player closest to Wirtz natural position appears to be Alexis McAllister IE left sided, creative attacking midfielder.
Whilst McAllister can play as the 6/ 8 or 10, he has been at his best as an 8 on the left of a midfield three.
This leads me to think that it's going to be tough to shoehorn both Alexis and Florian into the same team.
Maybe the 433 will become a 442 diamond or a 442 box. In which case, why all the hype about buying a number 9?
The narrow diamond with FBs supplying the width would accommodate Gravenberch, Szoboslai, McAllister and Wirtz. Leaving Salah and Diaz/ Gakpo playing as inside forwards with no number 9 (be it false or otherwise)
The box 442 was utilised a few times this season and would mean either Macca, Szobo, Curtis or Endo sitting alongside Gravy. As for the double 10s it would be Wirtz or Macca on the left side with either Szobo, Curtis or Elliott? playing right side - maybe Frimpong or Bradley?
So, is Wirtz a replacement for Diaz and he'll push Gakpo into a bit part role from the bench with Lucho playing as a 9 in a 433.
So many options, LFC are going to be a nightmare to play against.
13 Jun 2025 19:48:58
All I knows is our starting 11 is about 1 signing away from being freakish in all areas and our bench is looking menacing. What a time to be a red.
13 Jun 2025 19:49:14
Great question and great problem to have.
I think we played 53/ 54 games last season. Likely to be around the same or north of it.
Midfield rotation and fresh legs off the bench will ne key.
I genuinely believe whichever mid doesn’t start from 3 last season will almost certainly come off the mech anyhows.
13 Jun 2025 19:57:27
I was thinking this too in relation to Isak. IF we bought him too, who would miss out?
Horses for course and rotation is the answer I guess.
13 Jun 2025 19:59:57
We will be able to play a number of formations, but he’s been brought in to play in Szobo’s position.
“Last season he scored three [in the league] if I remember correctly and for an attacking midfielder at Liverpool his numbers need to go up” - Arne Slot
I think he got 12 G/ A this season in the prem, and I think Wirtz got 23 G/ A in the Bundesliga
I don’t think Liverpool set out to replace any of that midfield this summer, I just think an opportunity arose where a world class player became available, and he wanted to play for Liverpool, so we jumped at it.
He improves the first 11. It’s an amazing signing.
13 Jun 2025 20:00:08
Bench not mech ??♂️.
13 Jun 2025 20:03:01
Squad game nowadays. You need 16-18 top players to challenge on multiple fronts. Macca, Wirtz, Dom, Gakpo, Salah etc are all versatile and give Slot tactical and selection flexibility.
13 Jun 2025 20:47:49
In reply to RedAK I can’t see how Wirtz is in direct competition with McAllister. With links to strikers, it seems that Wirtz will play as a 10 behind a genuine number 9. The competition is for 2 spots between McAllister, Grav, Szbo, Jones etc. Wirtz could play false 9 when required.
13 Jun 2025 21:17:16
Mac and Wirtz are two of the first names on the team sheet. You have massively over thought this. Mac is our best midfielder and Wirtz is now our best attacking player.
13 Jun 2025 21:36:44
Our best attacking player is still Mo GYAC.
13 Jun 2025 21:37:35
I think a certain Mo Salah might have something to say about that Mark.
13 Jun 2025 22:39:02
We're going to need everyone.
13 Jun 2025 23:24:51
Rotation = less injuries = players actually play more over a season. It’s to their benefit not detriment.
14 Jun 2025 03:15:20
@Oli, except Nunez, Jota, Tsimikas, Robbo, Elliot, Endo, Morton, Dosk …?.
14 Jun 2025 03:20:51
It's kinda impossible to even speculate cos we haven't confirmed any sales and also who else might be coming.
Like, there's a few possibilities depending on who goes and who else comes in.
14 Jun 2025 03:34:04
I agree markp08. Macca is one of the first names on the teamsheet. He was one of, if not the best CMs i the Prem last season.
Slot will be able to give more rest to our midfielders and compete on all fronts.
13 Jun 2025 22:39:02
We're going to need everyone.
14 Jun 2025 07:21:00
Wirtz is not going to play as a number 8, he's tough and up for a duel but I don't think he quite has the physicality to play in midfield right now. He is more than capable of a fight higher up the pitch, but not in midfield. He will either start on the left wing and effectively play the Salah role, but on the other side, coming into the left half space, or as a false 9 dropping into that 'box midfield' when we have the.
14 Jun 2025 07:25:16
Oops pressed send again, I really should stop typing on here with my phone because the pop ups suddenly shift the buttons to unexpected places.
Whatever the case may be I don't expect him to start in midfield, you want him higher up the pitch and not having to do all the work of a midfielder in our system. Wirtz is actually fantastic very high and wide near the corner flag like a conventional left winger, people think of him like sone kind of classic 10 but I think the position he occupies is really similar, as I said, to mo, but on the other side, as an inside left forward/ left sided playmaker.
Now macca does like to take up that position when we have the op.
14 Jun 2025 08:03:14
Hard to believe that one person on here was calling MacAllister crap a few months ago.
There's one born every minute.
14 Jun 2025 08:46:42
Great question to have in fairness. I'd imagine it to be a similar 4-3-3 so:
Goalkeeper:
- Allison
Defence:
- Kerkez
- VVD
- Konate
- Frimpong
Midfield: (this is where Wirtz allows for a bit of rotation) :
- we play with Grav and Mac further back and Sobz in the 10 but now:
- any 2 of Grav, Mac or Sobz
- Wirtz in the 10 role
- all 3 last season moved back and forward supporting each other and I think we will see that again
- also, have the option of resting Wirtz and playing Sobz too
Attack:
- Gakpo/ Diaz
- new CF
- Salah
Note that Frimpong can play rw very well so can offer cover for Salah - Wirtz can play across the front 3 but I think Slot has told him he will be the 10, he would have had Musiala in that role too at Bayern and I think a big part of his decision was Slot's plans for him and the team
The next big things are:
- get the Kerkez deal done
- another CB needed - might see Quansah sold
- the CF position: a great striker would be unreal.
14 Jun 2025 09:27:55
Nice one, West Derby Wanderer IV. That was quite funny.
14 Jun 2025 10:35:04
It is a good question.
We will need more than eleven players but someone will play less than they did last season. Someone will 'miss out'. about
Maybe Slot will use more players as he brings his own in but I still think there will some that he relies on more than others.
And we may not have finished our business yet, either.