Forget Andoni Iraola, Liverpool could hire another manager who would be perfect for Florian Wirtz

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Arne Slot has been sacked as Liverpool manager, and the hunt for his replacement has already started.Andoni Iraola has been heavily linked with the Liverpool job following Arne Slot’s shock departure, but another candidate may actually be a better fit for one of the club’s most important players.If Liverpool are serious about building around Florian Wirtz, then there is another manager who could be a better fit.Pierre Sage is an option for Liverpool according to The Athletic, and he could be perfect for Wirtz. Credit: AFC Bournemouth/Getty Images Pierre Sage could be great for Florian WirtzLiverpool fans would be forgiven for not knowing much about Pierre Sage, but based on his career so far, there’s reason to think he could be a good manager for Florian Wirtz.The former Lyon manager showed during his time in France that he knows exactly how to get the best out of a creative attacking talent.

That was most evident with Rayan Cherki, who enjoyed his rise to superstardom under Sage before his move to Manchester City.Rather than restricting Cherki within a rigid system, Sage gave him freedom.He understood that some players are most effective when allowed to drift into pockets of space, pick up possession in dangerous areas and influence games instinctively. Cherki responded by becoming one of Lyon’s most important attacking players and finally delivering on the potential many had seen for years.That approach could be ideal for Wirtz.The German international is supposed to be one of the most gifted attacking midfielders in world football, but we haven’t seen that so far at Liverpool under Arne Slot.Wirtz struggled under Slot in a system that became increasingly less fluid as the Reds’ struggles went on.

Whereas, Wirtz is a player who needs freedom and the ability to be off the cuff.Sage’s work with Cherki suggests he understands that.While Wirtz and Cherki are different players, there are similarities in how they operate. Those qualities are valuable, but Liverpool may need something slightly different if they want to maximise a player like Wirtz.Wirtz was meant to be the centrepiece of Liverpool’s future, so why not hire a manager who is happy to build a team around this type of player.Join Our NewsletterReceive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox