Wirtz Shines as Liverpool Secures Narrow Victory Over Wolves

Following his impressive showing in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on December 20, Florian Wirtz continued to make waves for Liverpool in a closely contested match against bottom-placed Wolves. Wirtz, who recorded his inaugural league assist against Spurs by setting up Alexander Isak, was instrumental once again, leading the team in both chances created (3) and successful dribbles (7).

The moment every Liverpool supporter had eagerly anticipated arrived just before halftime. Wirtz skillfully collected a well-placed through ball from Hugo Ekitike and calmly slotted the ball past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa, igniting a jubilant response from all corners of Anfield as the 22-year-old midfielder celebrated his first goal in a Liverpool shirt.

With a goal and an assist in his last two Premier League outings, Wirtz appears to be hitting his stride at Liverpool, following the excitement surrounding his transfer from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen in June. This milestone has led to comparisons with Liverpool legend Peter Beardsley, as noted by former player John Aldridge.

Aldridge, who formed a formidable partnership with Beardsley in the late 1980s, spoke highly of Wirtz in his Liverpool Echo column. He stated, “That first goal for Florian Wirtz was going to come, wasn’t it? I’ve watched him for some time. He’s a player. He reminds me of Peter Beardsley. He’s bright, he’s smart, but he needed that goal. It was playing on his mind. It’ll be a relief to him and he can build on it now for sure.”

Wirtz’s ability to link up effectively with Hugo Ekitike has also impressed Aldridge, who noted that with Alexander Isak expected to return, the team will have more attacking options. “When you’re a striker, you need service and Wirtz certainly provides that,” he added.

On the other hand, Federico Chiesa struggled to make a significant impact against Wolves. He started the match in place of the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai and recorded a pre-assist for Liverpool’s opener. However, Aldridge expressed understanding for Chiesa’s situation, acknowledging the challenges of transitioning from a substitute to a starter, especially in a team requiring consistent performance.

“Chiesa always gives you 100 percent,” Aldridge commented. “But he’s devoid of match fitness, so we couldn’t expect much more from him against Wolves. It’s not easy to come in and be a star. At the moment he’s an impact player.”

Looking ahead, Liverpool aims to extend their unbeaten streak to eight matches in all competitions when they host an in-form Leeds United at Anfield on New Year’s Day. Following their win over Wolves, Liverpool climbed to fourth in the league table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Chelsea. Wirtz will be eager to build on his breakthrough goal against Daniel Farke’s Leeds, who remain unbeaten in their last five league matches, including a dramatic 3-3 draw with Liverpool on December 6.