Despite a perfect league start with four wins from four, Liverpool under Arne Slot doesn`t seem to have hit top gear yet. Slot`s second year as head coach presents complex decisions regarding integrating new players and finding optimal positions within the squad.
Alexander Isak`s return to action only adds to the starting lineup dilemmas. Hugo Ekitike has shown a strong start to the season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the league, but he will likely need to shift to the wing when Isak is ready to start. For Ekitike, who spent most of his time at Eintracht Frankfurt as the secondary attacker to Omar Marmoush, this role won`t be unfamiliar, but it also provides Slot with more tactical options for structuring the team.
With the Champions League group stage beginning on Tuesday, squad rotation will be necessary. Players like Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, and Ekitike will all spend time on the bench, which could potentially benefit Wirtz. So far, in three Premier League matches, he has yet to record a goal or an assist, a noticeable step back compared to his performances for Bayer Leverkusen. Wirtz, accustomed to a high volume of involvement, is now making almost 25 fewer touches per game at Liverpool.
There are several reasons for this, including Liverpool`s playing style and the Premier League`s tighter spaces. However, it`s also important to note that at Bayer, Wirtz was the main star, and the entire game revolved around him. Liverpool, on the other hand, boasts a constellation of talents, meaning even Mohamed Salah doesn`t dominate possession for the Reds. Wirtz will likely gain more possession as the season progresses, but it`s also crucial to understand that Liverpool`s new acquisitions are part of a long-term plan.
Slot`s team is ideally suited for a 3-4-3 formation, but it`s currently impossible to implement with Salah in the squad, as one of Wirtz, Isak, or Ekitike would have to be left out. This already creates rotation questions with Dominik Szoboszlai and is an inherent challenge for a top club worldwide. Slot must keep players motivated while making the right decisions to maintain Liverpool at the top of the league. So far, he has managed to do this, even without Wirtz playing at his peak.
However, in the Champions League, Wirtz will need to step up. Last season, Liverpool finished atop their group but failed to win the tournament and were also knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle. These setbacks are easier to stomach when the team is confidently marching towards a league title, but if the Reds fail to make deep runs in European competitions this season, it could signal the beginning of a worrying trend. As games come thick and fast, Wirtz needs to be at his best, otherwise Liverpool will start to struggle. A team cannot consistently outperform its full potential for long in the Premier League.
