Pundits and supporters alike agree that Florian Wirtz produced his finest display yet in a Liverpool shirt during the 2-0 victory over West Ham.
Here's a breakdown of the key points from the analysis and comments, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Best Performance: Pundits such as Jamie Carragher observed that his opening 45 minutes represented his "finest" in a Liverpool shirt, describing it overall as his "best Liverpool performance by far" in the Premier League.
Composure and Control: He received acclaim for bringing direction and composure to the side, controlling possession flow, manipulating space, and dictating tempo, performing as a "conductor with both imagination and authority."
Passing and Technique: His passing accuracy reached exceptionally high levels of 95-97% (for instance, 42/45 accurate passes across 75 minutes, and 28/29 in the opening half). He was characterised as a "world-class technician" with "clever movement and deft touches."
Influence on Goals: He proved instrumental in the build-up to Alexander Isak's opening goal, delivering the "killer pass" to Cody Gakpo, which was subsequently cut back for the finish.
Florian Wirtz put in a fantastic display for Liverpool against West Ham
Florian Wirtz put in a fantastic display for Liverpool against West Ham (Image: Getty Images)
Work Rate and Positioning: He demonstrated his defensive capabilities through ball recoveries and ground duels, dispelling any notion he focuses solely on attacking. Manager Arne Slot praised him for being "very important for us to find the extra midfielder every time."
Silencing the Critics: The performance was viewed as a robust rebuttal to recent criticism about his hefty transfer fee (£116m) and his lack of goals or assists in his first 12 league matches.
Roy Keane was highlighted for having publicly supported him to succeed.
Final Verdict: Despite his overall brilliant performance, he was unfortunate not to register an assist and missed a "significant chance" himself in the first half. Some fans and pundits believe his creative play deserves better finishing from teammates.
System and Teammates: A common feeling among supporters and some commentators is that Wirtz is being let down by the wastefulness of those around him and that the team needs to be built around his strengths to truly flourish.
Manager's Call: Arne Slot disclosed that he disregarded the advice of his performance staff to substitute Wirtz earlier due to a recent injury, labelling the decision an "exception" that paid off.
In conclusion, the consensus is that Wirtz stepped up and delivered a pivotal performance, demonstrating the quality Liverpool acquired him for.