Liverpool players celebrate their team's first goal scored by Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England.placeholder image
Liverpool players celebrate their team's first goal scored by Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool (not pictured) during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid C.F. at Anfield on November 04, 2025 in Liverpool, England. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Liverpool defeated Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night to give their season a much-needed injection of positivity
Liverpool star Florian Wirtz delivered what was arguably his best performance for the Reds since his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen as he produced an impressive display in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid.
The German international was tireless as he ran 11.37km at Anfield, more than any other player. He was started on the left wing of a 4-3-3 by manager Arne Slot. He almost provided an assist as he squared a perfectly-weight low cross to Dominik Szoboszlai in the first half but the Hungarian was denied by the impressive Thibaut Courtois in the Real Madrid goal.
Wirtz played 88 minutes and made two successful dribbles, six recoveries and had a pass accuracy of 86 per cent. He proved a lot better at keeping possession and was always looking to make things happen while also doing the hard work in defence.
His performance was praised by his teammates, manager and one former Liverpool ace.
Virgil van Dijk and Dominik Szoboszlai hail Florian Wirtz for tireless Real Madrid display
“For the them [new signings] it is about showing what you have already been doing for years. Florian started on the left wing and it is difficult for a defender to have a player in front of you who will go anywhere,” captain Virgil Van Dijk said speaking to Amazon Prime after the game.
“He played outstanding. Also in defending, he was outstanding. It is just about being able to keep going, find your way into the team and be important. If you’re not, then be important off the pitch.
“We all get judged by what you do on the pitch but step-by-step we will get there.”
Carragher agreed that it was Wirtz’s best performance since joining the Reds.
Arne Slot reacts to Florian Wirtz performance
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Liverpool boss Arne Slot hailed Wirtz’s impact and felt he was unlucky to not get a goal contribution. The Reds boss said: “I've said it many times and I can say it one more time, but it is all up to everyone else to have a different opinion or the same opinion as I have. If you come from a different league and you have to play every two days and there are so many away games need to be played against certain styles of play, you need to adapt to that.
“That goes almost for everyone, let alone for a player that's 22. I think he's working incredibly hard to adapt as soon as he can and he has been so unlucky throughout his career here at Liverpool because even today he created so many chances for the team. But the goal we scored wasn't an assist or a goal from him.
“I wouldn't even say give him a bit of time because we gave him already that time to adapt. I played him many times for him to adapt to the Premier League, but I didn't play him every single game because that's not what I do with almost any player, but also not with players that either missed pre-season, are very young or come from a different league.
“They need a little bit of time to adapt if you have two days' rest after the [Eintracht] Frankfurt game and you have to go away to Brentford, that is different probably than having an away game in the Bundesliga or in the Eredivisie or in any other league in the world. This league is the best-played in the world, I think - all the 20 teams. So you can understand that so many great individuals and athletes are playing here, mainly from 25 to 30 and at some teams you also see 22-year-olds.”
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