Wilz is included! Liverpool s blueprint for defending the title in the new season: three sets of formations unlock the potential of Bundesliga genius

Premier League champion Liverpool plans to introduce German midfielder Wilz this summer to strengthen the lineup and prepare for the defending battle in the 2025/26 season. The 22-year-old will join Anfield with a transfer fee of up to £116 million, which could make him the most valuable player in Premier League history.

Such a high value is naturally accompanied by huge expectations, which stems from the extraordinary talent he showed in helping Leverkusen win the first Bundesliga championship in team history. However, Liverpool was the strongest team in the league last season, with a stable lineup and well adapted to the tactical system of new coach Slott. Therefore, it is questionable how Wilz will integrate into the Dutch coach's team.

Joining a championship team may not be as simple as it seems. But the German international has played in various positions in the frontcourt in recent seasons in the club and national team. We analyzed several ways he might fit into the Reds roster in the 2025/26 season.

Solution 1: Attack midfielder (front midfielder)

The most direct position may be the attack midfielder character in the middle lane. Although Wiltz appears more on the left for most of the club-level games, Liverpool's system is completely different from what Xavi Alonso uses in Leverkusen, and the most obvious gap in the Reds' formation is exactly the attacking midfield position.

Wilz is known for his delicate ball possession, excellent dribbling and a key first pass vision. He contributed 13 assists in the Bundesliga last season, but he also has the ability to score goals and scored 10 goals last season.

No matter where he plays, it will add new dimensions to Liverpool's offense, but he may be the most efficient in the middle area. The Reds are expected to face more and more teams that use low-post defense and buses at Anfield in the new season.

Last season, Sobosloy was the candidate for the position, and Slot had previously talked about the key role of the Hungarian international in the team and his "incredible" work efficiency.

However, Wilz's ability to run without the ball is equally good. In the 2023/24 championship season, he ranked in the top ten in the Bundesliga match success and interceptions; the average running distance of 12.3 kilometers and 33 sprints per game also made him among the top five in the league in these two indicators.

Slott also mentioned that Sobosloy's "data needs to be improved" on the offensive end. Therefore, Wiltz may provide an ideal combination of off-ball running and ball offense.

Plan II: The left winger

Liverpool may face a shortage of staff, and Luis Dias is reportedly approaching leaving the team due to Barcelona's interest. Although Garkepo performed well in multiple periods last season, considering that Salah has firmly occupied the right winger since joining, Wilz may sometimes be deployed on the more sidelined left in the new season.

Wilz's tactical flexibility is one of its most popular traits. While most of his appearances at Leverkusen came from the left-attack midfielder position, Slot is unlikely to deviate significantly from the 4-3-2-1 formation that brought huge success last season.

The Dutch coach can arrange for Werz to play on the left and give him instructions to intersperse the running in the areas he is good at, allowing the German player to play an adductive hybrid left winger role. This plan will be especially effective if the club can sign Kolkz, and the Hungarian full-back who likes to plug in can provide the necessary width.

Program III: The pseudo-Nine or second striker

Wilz is one of the few players who benefited from the unique tactical vision of Xavi Alonso during his time in Leverkusen, which includes serving in different positions such as the second striker and the pseudo-Nine during his time in Bayer Arena. And the latter (Pseudo-Nine) may be where Wiltz is sometimes deployed in Liverpool. Last season, Slott had Louis Dias play the role, including in Anfield's 4-0 victory over Leverkusen.

Nuñez is also reported to be leaving the team, and Liverpool is allegedly looking for a striker in the transfer market. But if the signing fails to make a move, Wiltz can sometimes be used as a fake Nine. Many of Wilz's threatening qualities will be fully demonstrated in these mid-lane areas: from delicate ball possession, excellent dribbling to precise shooting and smell. However, his ability to attract defensive players to miss is particularly critical in these positions, creating a lot of available space for wide players behind the defense.