What to make of Florian Wirtz’s slow Liverpool start: German international trying to find his place at Anfield

With a victory over Burnley on Sunday, Liverpool can go clear atop the league with a perfect four wins from four matches, yet it doesn’t feel like the Reds have hit anything close to their top gear under Arne Slot. Looking to fit new signings into the XI and figure out how to find the best positions for the squad, year two in charge has brought tough decisions for Slot, and it will only continue to do so. 

Now, Alexander Isak will be available, only bringing new lineup questions for the Reds. Hugo Ekitike has had a strong start to the season with two goals and an assist in league play, but now he’ll likely need to move to the wing when Isak is ready to start. Given that for most of his time at Eintracht Frankfurt, Ekitike was the secondary attacker to Omar Marmoush, so this isn’t a role where he’ll feel out of place at Liverpool, but it does also give Slot more options for how to set up his squad.

How to watch Burnley vs. Liverpool, odds

• Date: Sunday, Sep. 14 | Time: 9 a.m. ET
• Location: Turf Moor — Burnley, England 
• TV: USA | Live stream: Fubo (Try for free)
• Odds: Burnley +800; Draw +460; Liverpool -320

With the Champions League league phase beginning Tuesday, rotation will be needed, and players like Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Ekitike will all see time on the bench, which could be a good thing for Wirtz. Yet to record a goal or assist in three Premier League games so far, it has been a step back since his time at Bayer Leverkusen. A volume attacker, Wirtz is taking almost 25 fewer touches per game so far at Liverpool. 

There are a few reasons for that, ranging from the style of play to there being less space in the Premier League, but one thing that’s also important is that Wirtz was the star on Leverkusen and everything went through him. Liverpool have a collection of stars in their own right, so even Mohamed Salah doesn’t dominate possession for the Reds. Wirtz will likely gain more possession as the season goes on, but this is also where it’s important to note that Liverpool are also preparing for next season with these additions.

Slot’s side are tailor-made for a 3-4-3, but that’s not able to be played right now with Salah in the side because one of Wirtz, Isak, or Ekitike would need to be out of the lineup. It’s already a rotation question with Dominik Szoboszlai, and it’s something that comes with being a top club in the world. Slot has to keep players happy in their roles while pushing the right buttons to keep Liverpool at the top of the league. So far, he has been able to do that without needing Wirtz to be at his best. 

But in the Champions League, Wirtz will need to take a step forward. Liverpool finished atop the league phase table last campaign but were unable to win the competition and also got knocked out of the FA Cup by Plymouth Argyle. Those things are easier to stomach while marching toward the title, but if the Reds aren’t able to make deep runs this season, they could be the beginning of a worriesome trend. As games start coming thick and fast, Wirtz needs to be at his best or Liverpool will begin to struggle. A team can only outperform not playing to their full potential for so long in the Premier League.