02 Jun 2026 00:37:40
I see Wirtz done well again for Germany. Nagelsmann plays a 4231 but with three 10s behind the striker. Wirtz is on the left. At Leverkusen he was the left 10 in a 3421. So for me he has to be in that role with Kerkez overlapping.
02 Jun 2026 07:05:56
Completely agree. Playing people in their best position is what we must get back to. Slot was a fool last season, and he put Dom RB, Jones RB, Wirtz AM, Gravenberch CB/AM, Frimpong RW, etc.
Dom is an AM, Jones is a CM, Wirtz is a LM/LW, Gravenberch is a DM/CM, and Frimpong is a RWB. Enough messing about, seriously. Put the £116m LM in the position he plays so well please. ??
02 Jun 2026 08:45:30
MK, perhaps we could have a Wirtz-Dom-Macca three behind Isak. Macca was at his best in an attacking mid role.
02 Jun 2026 08:55:14
I'm with you, KP. I'd love to see Wirtz and Dom in the roles you mentioned, but probably a faster, tricker alternative to your suggested Macca to play on the right. And then an Anderson type player alongside Grav. Must admit I do like Wharton, but can't see where he fits in.
02 Jun 2026 09:47:47
"Wirtz is a LM/LW".
Wirtz is a true no. 10, mate. He should not be anywhere near the wing, R or W.
No. 10's like him should be allowed to roam and find space in the final 3rd to make stuff happen while you build a midfield wall behind him, whoever that may be, IMO.
02 Jun 2026 10:31:10
Oli, I just don't see that, mate. Wirtz made his name primarily playing in the Leverkusen front 3. Occasionally as a false 9 (which presented a little bit like a 10, I suppose, but with no structural discipline needed), occasionally on the right, and mainly on the left. He's even listed amongst the forwards on the Liverpool official club website. Leverkusen primarily played a 3-4-3 during Wirtz's best years. On the odd occasion they played a 4-2-3-1, he did play AM, but the Bundesliga is a physically less demanding league, so he could still play with relative freedom. He was also one of the most effective in the Bundesliga at winning possession in the final 3rd, so get him Prem fit, and let him loose, in my opinion.
Maybe he could be a really good 10 in the Prem. That's a more than fair opinion, and I don't want to shout you down. But there is very little evidence to support that, I think. We tried him as a 10, and he looked weak and ineffective. Every time he played in the front 3 with a license to roam (not too unlike Coutinho under Klopp), he looked like he could be a player. I'd rather we give him the positional freedom to express himself and take risks, than shackle him in a midfield 3 where he will need to be more positionally rigid and get crowded out too easily. That's exactly what Germany do, and he looks incredible every time he plays for them.