Liverpool are reportedly on the verge of securing the services of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal that could reach a British record fee of £116.5 million. The potential arrival of the highly-rated German international raises exciting possibilities for how the Reds could line up next season under Arne Slot. Wirtz's versatility allows him to play in various attacking positions, providing Slot with tactical flexibility. Here are three potential formations Liverpool could utilize with Wirtz in the squad:
1. Central Attacking Midfield
One of the most natural fits for Wirtz is in the central attacking midfield role, operating as a traditional number 10. While he has often been deployed on the left flank for Leverkusen, Liverpool's system under Slot differs, and there is a clear gap in the squad for a creative force in the center of the park. In this setup, Wirtz would be the primary playmaker, linking the midfield and attack, dictating the tempo, and providing through balls for the forwards.
In this scenario, Dominik Szoboszlai, who often occupied the number 10 role last season, could provide cover or be utilized in a different midfield position. Wirtz's close control, dribbling skills, and eye for a key pass – demonstrated by his 13 Bundesliga assists last season – would add a new dimension to Liverpool's attack, particularly against teams employing a low block.
2. Left Wing Forward
Wirtz is also comfortable playing as a left-winger, a position where he has featured prominently for both Leverkusen and the German national team. Deployed on the left, Wirtz can cut inside onto his stronger right foot, creating goal-scoring opportunities or linking up with the central players. This option allows Liverpool to maintain a similar attacking structure to last season while adding Wirtz's individual brilliance.
With Wirtz on the left, Cody Gakpo or Diogo Jota could provide competition or be rotated into the lineup. The German's ability to drift inside would also create space for the left-back, Milos Kerkez, to overlap and provide width.
3. False Nine
A more unconventional but potentially exciting option is deploying Wirtz as a false nine. While not his primary position, Wirtz possesses the technical qualities and intelligence to excel in this role. As a false nine, he would drop deep, dragging defenders out of position and creating space for the wingers and attacking midfielders to exploit.
This formation could be particularly effective against teams that play with a high defensive line. Wirtz's movement and passing range would allow Liverpool to unlock defenses with intricate passing combinations.
Regardless of the specific formation, Florian Wirtz's arrival would undoubtedly inject creativity, versatility, and quality into Liverpool's attacking options. His ability to play in multiple positions gives Arne Slot a wealth of tactical possibilities as Liverpool look to build on their title triumph in the upcoming season.
