Florian Wirtz impressed at West Ham
Pundits and fans are in broad agreement that Florian Wirtz delivered his **best performance yet** for Liverpool in the 2-0 win against West Ham.
Here's a breakdown of the key points from the analysis and comments:
* **Best Performance:** Pundits like **Jamie Carragher** noted that his first 45 minutes were his "finest" in a Liverpool shirt, and overall it was his "best Liverpool performance by far" in the Premier League.
* **Composure and Control:** He was praised for bringing **direction and composure** to the team, controlling the flow of possession, manipulating space, and dictating tempo, acting as a "conductor with both imagination and authority."
* **Passing and Technique:** His passing accuracy was exceptionally high, reaching **95-97%** (e.g., 42/45 accurate passes over 75 minutes, and 28/29 in the first half). He was described as a "world-class technician" with "clever movement and deft touches."
* **Influence on Goals:** He played a key role in the build-up to Alexander Isak's opening goal, providing the "killer pass" to Cody Gakpo, which was then cut back for the finish.
* **Work Rate and Positioning:** He showcased his defensive qualities with ball recoveries and ground duels, quashing the idea he only cares about attacking. Manager **Arne Slot** praised him for being "very important for us to find the extra midfielder every time."
* **Silence to Critics:** The performance was seen as a strong response to recent criticism regarding his high transfer fee (£116m) and his lack of goals or assists in his first 12 league matches. **Roy Keane** was noted for having publicly backed him to succeed.
* **Final Output:** While his overall performance was brilliant, he was unlucky not to register an assist and missed a "significant chance" himself in the first half. Some supporters and pundits believe his creative play deserves better finishing from teammates.
* **System and Teammates:** A common sentiment among fans and some commentators is that **Wirtz is being let down by the profligacy of those around him** and that the team needs to be built around his strengths to truly thrive.
* **Manager's Decision:** Arne Slot revealed he ignored the advice of his performance staff to substitute Wirtz earlier due to a recent injury, calling the decision an "exception" that paid off.
Overall, the consensus is that Wirtz stepped up and had an **instrumental** performance, showcasing the quality Liverpool bought him for.