Wirtz is already one of many Bundesliga’s prime performers on the age of twenty-two, largely working as a quantity 10, a dynamic playmaker blessed with tempo, consciousness and the power to make intelligent choices at excessive velocity.

He was the best dribbler of all Bundesliga gamers final season, each by way of quantity and accuracy whereas carrying the ball.

Twenty-three of his 31 Bundesliga appearances in 2024-25 got here in an attacking midfield/quantity 10 berth, though he does are inclined to drift in the direction of the left wing.

“His greatest place, and the place that has been earmarked him for him in talks with Arne Slot, is that quantity 10 central function,” stated Honigstein. “In a barely reshuffled Liverpool, extra Dutch and extra Arne Slot workforce.

“He would be the fulcrum in assault. A participant who can choose up areas between the road, has an eye fixed for the killer ball however by no means loses sight of the purpose, he can rating objectives himself and may be very tenacious. A really trendy quantity 10 and a participant a variety of golf equipment wished.”

If Wirtz takes up a spot in Arne Slot’s midfield, taking part in as a standard 10, somebody has to overlook out, particularly within the 4-2-3-1 formation used so successfully final season.

It is unlikely to be Ryan Gravenberch given his rise into the anchoring function, which suggests Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister turn out to be weak.

The 2 share related stats, with Szobozslai creating extra ‘massive’ possibilities throughout the season, serving up extra objectives and assists, and Mac Allister being the extra combative of the 2.

He might present an choice on the flank, however Liverpool’s huge areas look like below lock and key. Mohamed Salah holds the best facet, whereas Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo provide selection on the left.

“Salah will play the place he performs and Szobozslai is essentially the most attention-grabbing one, as that will be the apparent place for him to play from what we have now seen in Germany,” stated Liverpool fan and Anfield Rap podcaster John Gibb0ns on BBC Radio 5 Reside.

“However Slot loves Szobozslai, he does a lot and helps Salah. You’ll think about he’ll try to discover a approach to get each of them if he can.”

That different might see Wirtz, or Szobozslai, taking part in within the centre-forward function in a 4-3-3, extra as a false 9 – a system and formation usually utilized by Slot’s former facet Ajax, which sees the central striker dropping to obtain passes and creating room for runs from elsewhere.

It was a mode that Roberto Firmino constructed his legacy with, by dropping from ahead positions into areas the place he might hyperlink play, thus permitting the relentless Salah and Sadio Mane to prosper from huge berths.

The output of Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez maybe factors to the central-attacking space being the one the place Liverpool lack a person in type.

“Liverpool with quantity nines hasn’t labored,” added Gibbons. “That is an alternate, to as a substitute play somebody occupying that function however taking part in a bit deeper and permitting Salah and Diaz to fill that void.

“Paris-St-Germain impressed everybody taking part in that means. They did it with Ousmane Dembele up prime, who will not be actually a striker, and so they had flying full-backs.

“We’ve introduced Frimpong in and it appears to be like like Kerkez might be subsequent, so perhaps he is taking a look at PSG and modelling on that.”

Choose your Liverpool XI for subsequent season beneath. We’ve included each Wirtz and Kerkez within the accessible squad, with each set to be at Anfield subsequent season.