Florian Wirtz’s £116m arrival at Liverpool was meant to ignite their attack, but questions about Arne Slot’s midfield balance are growing.
The German playmaker has created plenty of chances this season, yet his failure to score or assist recently has frustrated pundits.
Owen Hargreaves believes Liverpool’s midfield three from last season offered better balance than the current system Slot is experimenting with, reports Echo.
According to the TNT Sports analyst, shoehorning Wirtz into the starting lineup has disrupted harmony, especially with Dominik Szoboszlai shifted deeper.
Jamie Carragher and Wayne Rooney also suggested Liverpool may benefit from temporarily benching Wirtz until he fully adapts to Premier League demands.
Despite creative sparks, Wirtz’s struggles in front of goal have placed added pressure on Slot, who faces big decisions before international fixtures.
Balance Problems Emerge for Liverpool
Hargreaves argued Liverpool’s success last season stemmed from Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai forming arguably the Premier League’s best midfield.
By forcing Wirtz into the side, Hargreaves believes Slot has created tactical imbalance, with full-backs and defenders also struggling to adjust effectively.
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Rudi Völler remains confident Wirtz will shine eventually, while Sir Kenny Dalglish has urged patience with the German international’s ongoing development process.
For now, Slot must find balance between star power and system efficiency, or Liverpool risk further setbacks chasing rivals in the Premier League.
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