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Micah Richards has suggested that Florian Wirtz's physicality and his experience in the Bundesliga may be contributing to his challenging start at Liverpool.
The German midfielder recently provided his first two assists since the Community Shield during the team's 5-1 Champions League victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. The 22-year-old has been under the microscope following his Premier League debut, with his struggles reflecting Liverpool's less-than-stellar season.
Arne Slot's players have experienced a significant downturn, losing their last four league games and now trailing seven points behind the leaders. While Wirtz has shown flashes of his potential in England's top-tier league, Liverpool has struggled to seamlessly integrate the club's new signings, with Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez also finding it difficult to make an immediate impact.
The Reds' recent 3-2 defeat to Brentford only added to the reigning Premier League champions' woes.
With increasing pressure on his team selections, Dutch manager Slot is facing a tough challenge. However, Richards believes that changes in the midfield have played a part in Liverpool's difficulties.
"If you look at the tactical view, it's the midfield area," he said, speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast.
"[Alexis] MacAllister was protection for them [the defence], [Ryan] Gravenberch was the protection, and [Dominik] Szoboszlai had legs, now it's completely different. They're trying to go with a Curtis Jones, very good player, but he's not got the defensive qualities of the other midfielders, Wirtz as well, we know he's going to become a good player, but he needs to find somewhere where he can excel.
"If you're a midfielder now playing against Wirtz, you're worried about what he can do on the ball. But off the ball, he's small, petite, he's not very strong, he's come from a different league, you're going to expose that, and that's what teams are doing now.
"It's energy in midfield, which is why Liverpool were so consistent."
Among numerous pundits in England, opinion remains divided on Wirtz, though most are eager to emphasize the caveat that he will ultimately prove his worth.
In Germany, Wirtz has received unwavering support, with legendary Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp among his advocates. The Premier League-winning tactician called the 22-year-old a "once-in-a-century" talent.
"His [Wirtz's] quality is so outstanding. The discussions are a bit exaggerated," he said. "Liverpool just lost three games in a row, which is unusual. But that's also normal in life. And that's why such things are discussed there.
"Now I've been in the middle of such discussions long enough and can say: nothing could interest people there less than the public discussions.
"[Wirtz is] a once-in-a-century talent, and at some point, he'll show that in every game again, just as he did at Leverkusen."
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