A visit to Anfield to face Liverpool due to this fact gave a glimpse of Wirtz in opposition to a very elite defence and, whereas the 4-0 scoreline underlines his facet being a degree under this time period, there was lots to admire in Wirtz’s personal sport.
First, some context. Liverpool’s begin to the season has been terribly good, sitting prime of the Premier League – and now the Champions League desk too – with Arne Slot having fun with an exquisite starting to life at Anfield. A part of the explanation for that’s the new head coach having instilled extra management and safety for the final line: with solely six conceded, the Reds have the perfect defensive report within the English prime flight.
It’s due to that, although, that this was such a notable take a look at for Florian Wirtz. And, with respect to the primary half, there was a formidable side to the 21-year-old’s method – despite the fact that this was in a barely completely different function to regular.
To attempt to fight Liverpool’s dwelling benefit and up to date type, Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso sacrificed one in all his regular assist attackers for an additional midfielder; from 3-4-2-1 to 3-5-2, Wirtz due to this fact working as primarily the right-sided of two break up forwards, Victor Boniface attacking as “striker” from the left. The place he ran straight, Wirtz was extra free-roaming: dropping into holes within the channel, choosing up the ball to the facet of Liverpool’s holding midfielder and customarily trying to mix in second-forward vogue with these making the runs past him. In a sport of two halves, B04 had 57% possession within the first 45 minutes however simply 47% within the second as their hosts ran away from them. The German facet mustered a complete xG worth of 0.8, because the pink wall stood agency as soon as extra.
And but in opposition to this regimented defence, Wirtz confirmed he nonetheless had the instruments to choose the locked door – despite the fact that it didn’t finish in his teammates scoring. He created three probabilities – solely Mohamed Salah managed extra within the sport – and his cumulative 0.31 xA tally was solely bettered by Alejandro Grimaldo (0.42) amongst his personal teammates.
The decide of the bunch and the second of the sport so far as Leverkusen have been involved was a deft flicked ball on the run, by and over two defenders, which noticed Wirtz free an away shirt into the field on the bounce – however once more no actual take a look at for Caoimhin Kelleher materialised.
A few pictures of his personal and touches within the field confirmed Wirtz’s intuition and intent to make issues occur for his staff, however the overwhelming majority of his, and Leverkusen’s harmful moments have been grouped into the primary half. The one actual opening for him to doubtlessly scale back the arrears was a rebound which fell his manner 5 minutes from time, the sport already wrapped up by then, and his pushed strike was saved by the ‘keeper’s toes.
These two cases of half-chancery have been removed from simple to create or take, and spoke volumes as to why Wirtz will as soon as once more be in-demand come the summer season switch window. Already he has three targets in Europe this time period, and even after this routing of his staff he stays above 87% of comparable gamers for non-penalty xG per 90, 85% for pictures heading in the right direction per 90 and 88% for probabilities created. Within the Bundesliga, he can additional level to being above 92% for pictures heading in the right direction, 90% for probabilities, 93% for anticipated assists and a full 100% for profitable passes. He’s a famous person already and including Champions League expertise to his early profession will solely improve each his fame and skillset.
Leverkusen will at worst have a playoff spot in Europe; meaning ten video games he can seem in at this degree, 9 opponents he can doubtlessly tackle for the primary time, 9 several types of defensive set-ups and particular person defenders to go up in opposition to, take a look at himself with and attempt to discover the options to beat.
As an audition to taking over these prime degree defences, there was threfore one other physique of proof at Anfield that Wirtz’s contact, his motion, his work charge and intelligence to seek out house are all the highest order and that there’s likely nonetheless extra to come back in his sport. He didn’t discover the breakthrough in opposition to Liverpool on this event – however relatively than depend in opposition to him, this season that appears to be the norm for many gamers. Bochum, Heidenheim, and Salzburg might not fare as properly.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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