05 May 2026 11:08:59
Looking on Transfermarkt at our winning games this season in all competitions and the following is a highlight. 4231 with Gakpo-Wirtz-Salah behind Ekitike. A strong RB option so Dom, Gomez, Bradley. It's the most used combination. We've won with Isak and the odd game with Wirtz as a lw but not many.
A lot of chopping and changing in midfield so I'd don't think he knows his ideal pairing. The changing midfield, problems at RB, Alisson's injuries. Doesn't give you a settled back 5.
What's everyone's thoughts? Un Slot related but could this also be an issue?
05 May 2026 12:05:51
I think the defence will be left this window with more interest in bringing wide men and a midfielder or two. If Alisson is leaving, it surely has to be Kelleher.
Does anyone know if we inserted a buy back clause for Kelleher?
05 May 2026 12:07:00
I don't think injuries have exactly helped.
I also think playing Macca just kills off any chance of us getting a grip in the midfield.
Surely a midfield 3 of Grav and Szob as the double pivot and Wirtz as the 10 would be the way to go, though.
As long as Grav is disciplined as the actual 6, Szob given a more free role to get up and down, and Wirtz is linking up the attack.
Just makes perfect sense in my head anyway. On paper that's a really strong midfield, yet we have looked weak and lost in midfield all season.
05 May 2026 12:26:22
Mikey, vs United Szoboszlai sat and Gravenberch was the box to box mf in the 1st half. They switched in the 2nd half and lo and behold a goal and assist for Szoboszlai and a much more balanced performance. It's crazy we can see it but the professionals who coach them can't. ?
05 May 2026 12:43:14
Grav needs to sit. I, too, fail to understand how we discovered that he could be one of the best midfielders in the world if he just sat in and used his athleticism to cover ground off the ball. Dom is without question our best presser from the front. You have to use him aggressively in an advanced position to get the best of him, and have the rest of the front line press alongside him.
Whatever the case may be with Wirtz, I really hope we never ever stick him out on the left wing again, or at least, if we do, you need to give him the freedom to roam and have everybody else cover for him when he wanders. He is absolutely wasted being marooned out wide.
05 May 2026 12:51:42
Re Wirtz. It's like Rodgers who had no idea what to do with Firmino. When we get a manager who knows how to get the best out of him and builds the attack around him, then we'll be off to the races.
05 May 2026 13:18:55
100% agree, Flidby.
05 May 2026 13:31:44
I literally posted 6 months ago saying Grav and Szob should be sitting behind Wirtz. Szob's asset is his ability to arrive late in the box and score, plus long range efforts, and his athleticism/pressing. Grav's ability is sitting, eating up ground, and progressing the ball from deep by beating the press and popping it off to others.
05 May 2026 13:46:04
I know one currently unemployed manager who knows how to get the best out of Wirtz.
05 May 2026 13:50:52
I don't think there are many expert football tacticians here amongst us. Most of us are just avid football fans, with varying degrees of experience just watching games. And yet even the novices can see that a midfield of Gravenberch sitting back, Szoboszlai next to him, and then venturing forward when required (the Lampard role), and Wirtz being ahead of both in an attacking role, seems to be the ideal set up (at least on paper).
I actually thought this was what the club had in mind when Wirtz was bought.
05 May 2026 13:55:13
Spot on, @flidby. If Wirtz was mint at Leverkusen and currently with the national team and only sucks at LFC under the manager then, the issue is clear.
But don't worry, all of this is "insert unconcerned individual" here rather than the one culprit we all know is the real problem.
05 May 2026 13:57:19
"I know one currently unemployed manager who knows how to get the best out of Wirtz."
Haven't you heard? Said unemployed manager is not good enuff despite winning the Bundesliga (with Wirtz being player of the year) with an undefeated league season and losing one game (a European final) in all comps. That season.
05 May 2026 14:02:31
We need major midfield reinforcements. Grav was great last season, but this season he is playing exactly like he did when Klopp was the manager, n it looks like he was out the door. Unless he moves back to where he was, then he no good.
The defenders need a CB. I think if Bradley n Frimpong can stay fit then we'll be ok. Up front we are ok with Isak n Ekitike, but we also need to replace a legend in Salah. Not all doom n gloom if we get the right manager.
05 May 2026 14:25:47
On Grav, another thing that has really annoyed me this season is when he drops back into the CB line when we are defending. That is not what the DM, or any midfielder should be doing! Is he being told to do that?
{Ed001's Note - what's wrong with that? That is to allow the centre-backs to cover the full-back areas, so the full-backs can get forward. It is something that has been done for years by defensive mids.}
05 May 2026 16:08:53
Exactly Ed that is a major part of defensive midfielders job. That is why a lot of the top defensive midfielders have played quite a bit of football as centre half earlier in their development.
They have a natural instinct to read the game defensively.
05 May 2026 18:03:09
No, I watch him drop between two already closely positioned CBs, leaving the who area around the D free. I am talking about when resort to our own type of low block rather than him filling in for CBs that are drawn out.
We concede a lot of goals from balls that break in and around the D area.
It's like he's trying to hide or something.
{Ed001's Note - I get what you mean now, sorry.}
06 May 2026 11:38:27
The key to unlocking Wirtz is more than plonking him into a position on the pitch. He needs to play with other like minded players who will play to his strengths, complimented by runners and defensive solidity in midfield.
We haven't had consistency all season, and I don't think it's fair to say Slot doesn't know what to do with him.
Pre-season my prediction for Wirtz was integrating into the team off the left with Macca playing CAM. Then we'd sell Macca, and Wirtz, by then would be fully accustomed to the prem and ready for CAM role.
Instead we've had Maccas, not Macca, return from summer, and so many players well off it, so Wirtz hasn't stepped into the greatest environment.