Dean Saunders believes Andoni Iraola should replicate Brendan Rodgers' handling of Philippe Coutinho at Liverpool to get the best out of Florian Wirtz. The former Reds striker, who joined the club for £2.9m from Derby County in July 1991, says Wirtz is a "liability out of possession" and should be moved out wide.
Wirtz has started each of Iraola's first five Premier League matches in charge, but his display in the 1-0 win at Bournemouth before the international break drew criticism. Saunders, speaking to the ECHO via Betpack, compared the German playmaker to Coutinho during his time at Anfield.
Saunders compares Wirtz to Coutinho
"I'm starting to view Florian Wirtz a little bit like I viewed Philippe Coutinho when he was at Liverpool," Saunders said. "He was an absolute genius, Philippe, but sometimes struggled a bit out of possession. I think a lot of Liverpool's good attacking football at the moment seems to flow through Florian, but he is a liability out of possession.
"I think it's time to try him out wide, exactly how Brendan Rodgers did with Philippe and allow him to just create chances and not worry about defending too much."
Persisting with Wirtz in the No.10 role means two of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Trey Nyoni have to jostle for two midfield positions.
Reds urged to sign defensive midfielder
Saunders believes Liverpool still need an out-and-out No.6. "Liverpool are short of a solid defensive midfielder anyway, someone like Rodri, Patrick Viera or N'Golo Kante to just sit there and break up play," he said.
"If they had a player in that bracket, then Dominik Szoboszlai could play slightly higher, and Wirtz could have a go out wide, and the team would be much more balanced. Liverpool haven't conceded too many goals to start the season and have even kept a few clean sheets, but their midfield is a little unbalanced with Wirtz in it, and it will catch up to them eventually."
Wirtz joins Germany squad early
Wirtz has joined up with the Germany squad earlier than expected. He was only due to link up for the third and fourth of their four Nations League matches, but injuries to Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz have brought him and Eintracht Frankfurt's Jonathan Burkardt into contention for Sunday's home clash with Greece.
Jurgen Klopp's first game in charge of Germany ended in a 1-1 draw with the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Thursday, with Cody Gakpo scoring an injury-time equaliser for the hosts.
