Liverpool have veered down into that later-season dip that seems to be a perennial occurrence for the Anfield side.
You could say that Arne Slot’s side have run out of steam, but then this would be a shallow and overblown viewpoint on a team that has been nothing short of brilliant for so long and now, perhaps, is feeling the effects of such gruelling, incredible efforts.
After all, Liverpool are set to lift the Premier League despite losing to Fulham at the weekend. That loss, bitter though it was, was Slot’s first on the road this season, ending a 26-game unbeaten run in the division.
Multiple players were culpable at Craven Cottage, but away from the error-strewn nature of the defensive efforts, those further up the field toiled too.
Dominik Szoboszlai, so impressive in recent months, certainly flattered to deceive, raising a question once again: do Liverpool need more creativity in midfield?
A look at Liverpool’s Szoboszlai
Saudi swoops for Fabinho and captain Jordan Henderson widened the scope of Liverpool’s summer rebuild in 2023, but the plan was always to sign a creative and robust midfielder in the mould of Szoboszlai.
Red Bull Leipzig’s attacking midfielder moved to Anfield after stand-in sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, activated his £60m release clause.
The 2024/25 Premier League title will soon be added to the Reds’ bulging trophy cabinet and Szoboszlai has played a crucial part, hailed as a “vital cog in Slot’s slick Liverpool machine” by The Athletic’s James Pearce.
However, he’s only scored seven goals and added six assists this term, with his 3/10 performance against the Cottagers on Sunday, as per The Liverpool Echo, underlining his lack of bite. A lot of running but not much substance.
Minutes played
55′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
34
Shots (on target)
2 (0)
Accurate passes
22/28 (79%)
Key passes
0
Dribbles
0/0
Tackles + interceptions
0
Duels (won)
1/2
More is needed, and Liverpool wouldn’t be unwise to turn to the transfer market, should the right chance reveal itself.
While attacking midfield isn’t FSG’s priority, there’s little question that Liverpool would pounce on one of the world’s finest if they could. That opportunity may have presented itself.
Liverpool join race for elite midfielder
As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have joined Manchester City in the race for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
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The four-in-a-row champions need to replace the outgoing Kevin De Bruyne, but Liverpool could strike a deal themselves given their need for more attacking impetus.
And few stars shine brighter than Wirtz, whose performances under Xabi Alonso’s wing over the past several years have seen him valued at a whopping €100m (£87m).
Though Bayern are unquestionable favourites in the race, Wirtz will be sure to keep his options open and might just be tempted by the Premier League.
Liverpool will need to weigh up their options, especially when considering the efforts that must be focused across other areas of the park, but Wirtz is the gold standard and would surely dovetail right into Slot’s starting lineup.
Why Liverpool should sign Florian Wirtz
Wirtz, still only 22, has already completed 191 appearances for Leverkusen, racking up 119 goal involvements. He was invaluable through the staggering success achieved last year, winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal without swallowing a single defeat.
While Die Werkself have struggled to reach the same heights this year, Wirtz has still been an elite-class option from attacking midfield, notching 15 goals and 13 assists across all competitions.
While he isn’t quite the same type of player, Wirtz could prove to be Anfield’s own version of Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in a deal worth £115m in 2023, a race that Liverpool ceded defeat in months earlier.
While Bellingham is one of his era’s generational talents, Liverpool packaged their midfield with Szoboszlai and more and are now heading toward the Premier League title.
Industriousness aside, though, you feel that a player of Bellingham’s technical level, with his flair, could take Liverpool to the next stage, and that man might be Wirtz.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 5% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive passes and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.
Positionally, this pertains to attacking midfielders and wingers, however, while most are restricted to one particular role, Wirtz has proven that he can maintain absurd levels across a vast range of areas.
Attacking midfield
153
47
52
Centre-forward
15
7
7
Right winger
11
4
3
Left winger
9
2
3
Central midfield
5
0
3
Interestingly, Wirtz maintains his potency no matter his positional placement, something that could play right into his possible future in Slot’s Liverpool system.
However, like Bellingham, he’s at his best when occupying the number ten role, playing as his team’s attacking “mastermind,” something noted by talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Such a decisive factor could prove a trump card for Liverpool in the years ahead. Expected success in the Premier League is fantastic, but fans have been left frustrated after poor efforts in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain and the Carabao Cup final, losing to Newcastle United.
Couple that with the woeful loss against Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup fourth round and you see why something a bit different, someone truly devastating in attack, could bear dividends for the Reds in the long run.
Bellingham, indeed, has posted 13 goals and 13 assists apiece for Los Blancos this term – almost identical to Wirtz – which add to last season’s haul and take the Three Lions star’s haul to 62 contributions across 86 matches for the Spaniards.
Szoboszlai, by comparison, has scored 14 goals and added 11 assists across 87 Liverpool outings. You can see where his deficiencies lie.
Bellingham is out of reach, but make no mistake, signing Wirtz could be a goal for FSG to work towards. It might just make all the difference over the coming years.
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