Florian Wirtz Shines in Liverpool’s 2-1 Victory Over Wolverhampton

LIVERPOOL, England — During Liverpool’s match against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield, Florian Wirtz showcased remarkable skill as he evaded Matt Doherty to relieve pressure on his team, igniting an offensive push for the hosts.

This clever play, executed midway through the first half, set the tone for a standout performance by the German international. Wirtz capped off his display by scoring his inaugural goal for the club since his £100 million summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen.

Wirtz’s joy was evident as he celebrated with his teammates after netting in the 42nd minute, suggesting that his previous lack of goal contributions had been a source of frustration. However, having recorded his first assist in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur the previous weekend, the 22-year-old may feel his on-field contributions are beginning to reflect his growing importance to Arne Slot’s side.

In the match against Wolves, Wirtz made a notable impact with 104 touches and completed 71 of 84 attempted passes. He was also the most creative player on the pitch, generating three chances and consistently pressing opposing defenders when he lost possession. After facing scrutiny in recent months, Wirtz’s latest performance hinted that he is finally beginning to thrive on the Premier League stage.

“It was a wonderful feeling on the pitch with the fans around,” Wirtz remarked to Sky Sports after the match. “I am very happy and confident that I would score eventually. I wished to contribute with goals and assists sooner, but I accept that this is how it unfolded. I believe more will come, and I will continue to push forward.”

Additionally, Wirtz must have been pleased to see his close friend and former Leverkusen teammate Jeremie Frimpong excel against the struggling Wolves. In his first league start since August, the Dutch international brought much-needed energy to Liverpool’s right flank, assisting Ryan Gravenberch to score the opening goal in the 41st minute.

Just 90 seconds later, Wirtz doubled the lead following an incisive pass from Hugo Ekitike, establishing a solid advantage against a Wolves team that remains winless in the league this season. Despite their lead, Liverpool’s defense was tested when Santiago Bueno scored from a corner at the beginning of the second half, a situation that raised concerns for Slot, especially considering his team has now conceded 12 set-piece goals this season.

Throughout the current campaign, Liverpool has allowed a 2-0 lead to slip on four occasions in all competitions. Had it not been for a remarkable challenge by substitute Conor Bradley to thwart Jhon Arias late in the match, that troubling trend might have continued.

“Naturally, when you go into halftime with a 2-0 lead, you anticipate a different second half. However, a single goal can shift momentum, as we witnessed today,” Slot noted in his post-match comments. “While we maintained ball possession, the game became more balanced, prompting a sense of apprehension whenever they advanced. Nonetheless, we didn’t concede many significant chances. I saw a team fighting to secure the win, even if it wasn’t the smoothest performance.”

Liverpool’s current limited options from the bench are undeniably affecting their game management. With striker Alexander Isak facing a long recovery after ankle and fibula surgery, and Mohamed Salah away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool appears short on game-changers—a situation that may necessitate action in the upcoming January transfer window.

Despite these challenges, Liverpool remains unbeaten in their last seven matches across all competitions, accumulating 14 points from the last 18 available in the league. Central to this revival is Wirtz’s resurgence in form, which has not gone unnoticed by Slot, who praised the midfielder following Saturday’s match.

“I’m quite certain it was a relief for him,” said Slot. “I could see his reaction after scoring, and his teammates were genuinely happy for him. In football, we are often judged by results, and individuals by goals and assists, sometimes overlooking other contributions during the game. Wirtz has delivered multiple strong performances for us, and he is only getting better with each game. It’s no surprise that he scored today.

“He understands that one goal is simply not enough, so I hope he will find the back of the net many more times for us. I was impressed by his performance today; he was special in numerous moments.”

Indeed, Slot’s observation is valid: Wirtz should set his sights higher than just one goal against a team struggling to avoid a historic low points tally in the Premier League. However, with his potential now unleashed, Liverpool hopes this marks the beginning of an illustrious chapter for their new star.