Nine games into his Liverpool career, and Florian Wirtz is still waiting for his first Premier League goal. His only assist came in the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace, sparking questions about whether the £116m German international has justified the hype.

Some critics have been blunt. Former England striker Wayne Rooney declared that Wirtz “damages the balance of Liverpool’s team”. He added: “He’s a top player and I’m sure he will get better – but he’s had a slow start and I think there’s no denying that.”

But is it really that simple? A closer look at Wirtz’s performances shows a player adapting to a new tactical system, in a new league, under a new manager.

Manager Arne Slot is reshaping Liverpool’s style of play. With Trent Alexander-Arnold sidelined, the Reds have leaned more heavily on central build-up, mirroring Slot’s approach at Feyenoord. Quick rotations, one-touch interplay and central progression have become the hallmarks of this new system.

Wirtz, naturally suited to linking attacks, should thrive here. But instead of being deployed in his favoured advanced role, he is often tasked with responsibilities that pull him deeper. This tactical tweak has limited his influence in the final third.

He hasn’t been poor – far from it. But playing outside his comfort zone has blunted his creative spark.

One major adjustment for Wirtz has been his positioning. With Liverpool lacking Alexander-Arnold’s deep playmaking, build-up duties have shifted. Virgil van Dijk’s long diagonals to Mohamed Salah remain effective, but otherwise Liverpool’s backline struggles to progress possession.

That has left Wirtz carrying the burden. He often drops deep, collecting the ball before driving forward. While his technical ability allows him to cope, it reduces the time he spends near the opposition goal – precisely where he is most dangerous.

If Curtis Jones or another midfielder can shoulder more of the build-up, Wirtz could push higher upfield, allowing him to do damage closer to the box.

In Germany, Wirtz thrived in situations where he had space to turn and carry the ball. Under Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, he often drifted to the left wing or operated between the lines when the game opened up.

This separation allowed him to receive passes on the half-turn, attack defenders directly, and use his change of pace and body feints to break through lines.

In England, that luxury has all but disappeared. Compact Premier League defences allow little room, and pressing intensity is relentless. Against sides like Crystal Palace, Wirtz has looked suffocated.

The solution may lie in tweaking his positioning. Like Jack Grealish, Wirtz excels when driving into space. Slot may need to station him wider, or instruct his midfielders to find him earlier with more direct passes, ensuring he receives the ball before defenders can swarm him.

The Premier League’s physical demands are another factor in Wirtz’s slow start. Slot’s system requires attackers to press aggressively when possession is lost.

To his credit, Wirtz has fully committed to this task. He is covering more ground than almost anyone in the division – in fact, he ranks fifth for distance covered per 90 minutes among all players with 400+ minutes, and first among Liverpool players.

This work-rate is commendable, but it comes at a cost. Fatigue may explain why some of his attacking actions lack sharpness. By the time he gets the ball, he has already spent energy counter-pressing and dropping deep to help in build-up.

Speaking to Sky Sports Germany, Wirtz admitted the shift has been challenging:

“We press a lot and I run a lot. I’m always near the top of the running stats because I try to push hard and do what the coach asks. That takes strength and energy. When I have the ball, I might be lacking a little bit. Step by step, with more games, I’ll be fitter and better recovered so I can push harder on the ball.”

At Leverkusen, Wirtz could conserve energy by jogging or walking in phases of play, saving his bursts for decisive moments. In England, that isn’t an option. Energy management will be key if he is to deliver late in matches.

Pairing him with tireless midfielders such as Dominik Szoboszlai could free him up to concentrate on creative duties.

Labeling Wirtz’s start as a failure is premature. He has not looked lost – rather, he has looked like a player asked to plug gaps instead of being unleashed to exploit his strengths.

The next challenge for Slot is to refine the team’s balance. If others step up in build-up and defensive transition, Wirtz can return to operating in advanced zones where he does the most damage.

This may not happen overnight. Chemistry takes time, especially in a squad undergoing stylistic change. But with his talent and drive, Wirtz is far too good not to come good.

The big question is whether Liverpool adapt around Wirtz, or whether Wirtz adapts fully to Liverpool. Realistically, it will be a mixture of both.

For now, patience is required. Wirtz cost £116m, and with that price tag comes scrutiny. But a deeper analysis suggests his underwhelming numbers don’t tell the full story.

Liverpool’s season may be defined not by whether Wirtz adapts, but by how quickly Slot can fine-tune his system to get the best out of him. If the balance clicks, Wirtz could go from slow starter to central star.