Assessment of Florian Wirtz's first nine appearances for the Merseyside club has typically reached the identical verdict - it has been an disappointing start.
Some have gone further. Ex- England striker Wayne Rooney said the expensive acquisition "disrupts the equilibrium" of the team's structure.
"He is a top player and I'm sure he will improve - but he's experienced a gradual beginning and I believe there's no denying that," said Rooney.
The young German is yet to score or provide an assist for his new club, but does that paint the whole picture?
In this analysis we explore how good he has performed, why he hasn't been delivering as anticipated yet, and how the club could extract the maximum out of him.
Liverpool's Evolving Style - and The Midfielder's Role
Liverpool's balance is disrupted, but they are evidently going through a period of change.
Manager Arne Slot has altered his approach this campaign - and perhaps the loss of right-back the England international posed bigger questions than anticipated.
In a similar approach to the manager's previous club team, Liverpool are looking to play with a greater number of positional switches between players, progressing through the central areas of the pitch with rapid, tight-area combination play.
It therefore makes sense for the attacking midfielder to be the primary creative hub to knit everything together.
However, in reality, he has been tasked to do a role that is slightly different from one he is used to.
And that has minimised how frequently he finds himself in positions to score or create chances.
It doesn't get the best out of the player as an individual, but he hasn't been bad in this less-than-ideal role.
Wirtz is Receiving the Possession Much Deeper
The midfielder is getting the ball further back with increasing frequency.
Alexander-Arnold was impressive in his capability to distribute the ball when playing deep, and the team seem significantly lacking that attribute.
Captain Virgil van Dijk's long switch to attacker Mohamed Salah is a effective way for them to get the ball forward reliably. Alternatively, Liverpool lack the distribution ability in defence to find team-mates up the field.
That responsibility has fallen on Wirtz at times. He has been dropping deep to get the possession before turning and trying to carry it up the pitch. He is able to do this because of his technical quality, but it is limiting the time he spends near the opposing net.
Should build-up responsibilities can be shouldered by another player, it possibly enables the attacker to position himself higher up the pitch.
Curtis Jones has the capability to perform this function in a double pivot or on the left wing, and may be an alternative Slot could consider as he looks to complement the German's preferred style.
Like Grealish, The Midfielder Thrives Running into Open Areas
Among the most significant contrasts Wirtz is encountering in the Premier League is the reduced room and heightened intensity applied to him.
Operating through the middle between the lines against very organized defensive sides such as Crystal Palace, Wirtz has been positioned with reduced time and room to play.
During his time at Bayer Leverkusen, there were games in which the midfielder would stand on the left flank while his colleagues advanced the play up the pitch before finding him.
In other situations, he would operate in central advanced midfield areas, particularly against sides that provided more space between the defensive units in matches that became more transitional in nature.
Former Bayer boss the Spanish manager utilized the talent effectively because each of these scenarios would allow him to get the ball with space - meaning he could collect and drive forward with room between himself and a defender.
To get the best out of the player, getting the possession to him when there isn't immediate pressure on him is ideal.
When he is capable to collect the ball on the half-turn and carry it ahead - with space between himself and the nearby opponent - he is able to use deceptive movements and a variation in speed to destabilize rival defences.
Comparably to the Merseyside club attacker Jack Grealish, his best work both on the dribble and in his distribution originates from scenarios in which he is driving with the ball and driving at players.
That is why several of the German's most impressive moments this campaign have come in transitions.
Space can be created by deploying him on the wing initially or by finding him in the midfield early. When he is positioned between the lines, particularly when an rival team's structure is spread, team-mates must accordingly play forward balls to locate the midfielder.
The Player's Effort May Be Impeding Him
The Premier League's intensity has tactical implications but also affects footballers individually - and the German appears to have still not completely adjusted to this change.
With the manager's faster and more rotation-based style of offensive play, the team are susceptible to counter-attacks, with fewer players supporting the play. This demands forward players like the midfielder to press immediately with energy when the possession is turned over.
Wirtz has completely committed to the out-of-possession instructions and has pressed energetically. Offensively, he is being encouraged to drop deep to help in constructing play while having the licence to contribute to offensive moves on each of the left side and right.
This combination is demanding physically, and some of his poor on-the-ball actions may be down to tiredness. Among all players to play significant game time in the Premier League this season, the midfielder has covered the fifth-highest distance per full match and the highest of any club player.
How Physical Requirements Impact Skill
In a recent interview with German media, the player discussed the contrast in his performances this campaign versus last.
He stated the manager had expressed a opinion "it might be because we harass a frequently and I run a lot".
Wirtz added: "For example, the running stats: I'm consistently at the top in that category because I attempt to exert maximum effort and do what the manager demands. I need a significant power and stamina for that. Whenever I have the possession, I might be lacking a little bit. The expectation this will simply come step by step, as I play more games, improve physically, become capable to do things more effortlessly, and then, whenever I have the play, become {fit|conditioned
