Wirtz Breaks Goal Drought in Liverpool’s Triumph Against Wolves

Florian Wirtz had a slow start to his career in England after Liverpool made a record-breaking move to acquire the German attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen. The transfer, marked as a British record fee, saw Wirtz go 16 Premier League matches without scoring before finally breaking his drought on Saturday, netting a crucial second goal for the Reds following Ryan Gravenberch’s opening strike. This goal proved vital as Wolves responded with a goal early in the second half.

Manager Slot expressed his satisfaction with Wirtz’s performance in an interview with Sky Sports, stating, “The team has seen how much he (Wirtz) has already contributed, creating chances and coming close to scoring. I believe he will score many more goals for us. Today, Florian did more than just score.”

Wirtz shared his joy upon scoring his first Premier League goal, saying, “It was a wonderful feeling to be on the pitch with the fans around. I was very happy and remain so. I had confidence that I would score eventually. I aimed to start scoring and assisting earlier, but I accept how things unfolded. I know it will come, and I will continue to push forward. We played an excellent first half, recovering well after losing the lead. Everyone worked hard, though we faced challenges in the final 20 minutes. I can’t explain why that happened, but we need to improve on that. Our goal is to be at the top of the table. While the start has been difficult, we are improving and accumulating points.”

Defensively, Liverpool’s performance has been subpar this season, managing to keep a clean sheet in only five of their 18 matches. In the game against Wolves, they conceded from a corner, highlighting a persistent issue for the Premier League giants.

Commenting on the team’s struggles with defending set-pieces, a visibly upset Van Dijk remarked, “We have defended many set-pieces well, but unfortunately, we’ve conceded too many goals in that manner, which is frustrating. We need to enhance our performance in this area. It requires repetition, training, and analysis. I’d estimate that at least 75 percent of the time, and perhaps even more, the issue arises in the second phase rather than the initial contact.”

Before kick-off at Anfield on Saturday, a poignant tribute was made to Diogo Jota, whose sons Dinis and Duarte accompanied the matchday mascots in what marked the first meeting between Liverpool and Wolves since the striker’s tragic passing in a car accident in Spain last July. Jota, who spent three seasons with Wolves before joining Liverpool in September 2020, achieved significant success during his time in Merseyside.

Jota’s widow, Rute Cardoso, expressed her gratitude for the heartfelt gesture, stating on social media, “From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the club and all the fans for the love, respect, and support shown during this incredibly difficult time. Your messages and gestures have meant more than words can express.”

Liverpool concluded 2025 on a high note, surpassing Chelsea to secure a position in the top four of the Premier League. They now aim to start the New Year positively as they face Leeds United at home on January 1.