A new role for Florian Wirtz - Hugo Ekitiké injury forces tactical tweak in Liverpool defeat

Only months after Florian Wirtz was reduced to a bench role by Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, the €125 million signing has been handed a new job that might make him their most important player heading into the final weeks of the Premier League season. The Germany international has improved his form since the dark early months on Merseyside, contributing four goals and three assists in December and January. But that pressure to deliver on the 22-year-old's shoulders will only increase after their 2-1 defeat to Brighton on Saturday.

Hugo Ekitiké appeared to suffer a serious knee injury during the first half at the Amex Stadium midway through the first half, with the Frenchman's right leg hyper-extending as his boot got caught in the turf. The Frenchman was replaced by Curtis Jones, who slotted into midfield. With record signing Alexander Isak ruled out already with a broken leg, Liverpool's striking options suddenly looked scarce.

Slot opted to move Wirtz into the 'false nine' role, spearheading their pressing efforts from the front, and it gave the German an entirely new job in this Liverpool team. After a quiet opening in the No. 10 role, the playmaker quickly become the focal point of their attacks in a deep-lying, central striking position. His teammates Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo made support runs beyond him as Wirtz tried to slide through intricate through balls. But this certainly wasn't like the role in which he flourished under Xabi Alonso with Bayer Leverkusen.

Alonso would deploy Wirtz along with two forwards either side of him in a 3-4-2-1 shape, leaving Wirtz and Frimpong to provide attacking impetus with creative freedom. The playmaker would drop deep, forcing defenders to follow him, creating space for his colleagues to run into. That tactic helped him produce 18 goals and 20 assists for Leverkusen.

But with Liverpool, Wirtz continued to chase long balls forward and most were lost causes. It goes some way to explaining why he has failed to provide a single goal or assist from that role in two starts, as the graphic below shows. As a No 10, Wirtz has returned four goals and five assists, suggesting he is more effective playing from deep - at least with Liverpool anyway.

Perhaps it's fair to say that Slot identified it wasn't working and he needed some fluidity to keep Brighton guessing, as he instructed Gakpo and Wirtz to swap positions at different times in the second half. But it was clear that Liverpool were lacking that true focal point up front, which Ekitike provided with his close dribbling and towering frame. Brighton only grew more confident as they pushed to reclaim their lead, with warning shots from Ferdi Kadioglu and Mats Wieffer.

Danny Welbeck had been a thorn in the side from the first minute, scoring the opener early on which was cancelled out by Milos Kerkez. On 58 minutes, the 34-year-old made it four goals in five games when the tapped home from Yankuba Minteh's square ball - and the replay from the semi-automated offside suggested it couldn't have been closer as he was adjudged to have been exactly level with the ball. It was his second of the day, and his omission from Thomas Tuchel's England squad looked even more curious given how he had put the Reds to the sword.

First-choice goalkeeper Alisson is out for "a long time", according to the Brazilian. Isak has spent several weeks in the physio room and now Mohamed Salah has joined him. Who knows at this point how long Ekitike will be sidelined? Liverpool's bench is already threadbare, but now they must adapt to an altered system where they play without a recognised striker.

As the injuries pile up, another defeat on the road leaves their Champions League qualification hopes hanging in the balance. Now, it's time for Wirtz to show exactly why Liverpool trust him to be their star man for years to come by stepping.