Liverpool 2-0 Brighton: match review
Florian Wirtz has still to score for Liverpool but enjoyed a good performance in the 2-0 victory over Brighton.
It was another game that the detractors have tried to use to further chide Liverpool’s £100 million signing.
The basic stats are not wrong. It was another Premier League game without a goal or assist for Florian Wirtz. Having been prolific at both for Bayer Leverkusen, it might be somewhat of a surprise that Wirtz has yet to register a goal contribution since his move to Anfield.
It is why supporters outside of Liverpool persuasion have attempted to scoff and rebuke. Even Did Hamman, a former Reds midfielder who won the Champions League, has used it against Wirtz.
“Christmas is coming soon and he hasn't scored a goal or decided a game yet,” said Hamann via BILD. “Football is played differently in the Premier League, and he has made little or no impact there so far.
“Liverpool bought a player for 140 million euros so that he could wake up a team that was on the ropes with one or two plays. He hasn't done that yet – and why should he do it now in January?”
However, anyone who watched the 2-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion knows how wrong Hamann and Wirtz’s other denigrators. Supporters know what a good performance looks like when they see what. That is what Wirtz delivered - and has been for several weeks now.
Granted, the Germany international endured his struggles after his move to Liverpool. Arne Slot felt that some of the criticism was unfair and that Wirtz would take time to adapt. Certainly, in the past five games of the unbeaten run, he is started to display his true worth.
Wirtz played a major part in Liverpool’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland as shot deflected off Nordi Mukiele for an own goal. Against Inter, the 22-year-old came off the bench and made a marvellous impact, winning the penalty - albeit a controversial one that was helped by a VAR review - that Dominik Szoboszlai converted to secure a 1-0 win.
And against Brighton, he was again impressive. Wirtz made three key passes throughout the game, as well as having a total of 64 touches. And while Mo Salah’s return stole the headlines along with Hugo Ekitike’s double, Wirtz’s defensive contributions should not go without merit.
Considering he is supposedly a No.10, the former Cologne man is scarcely afraid of putting himself about. He won all four tackles that he contested for, as well as eight of 11 ground duels and nine recoveries.
To be frank, those are the stats that Liverpool supporters might be more pleased about. There has never been any doubt about Wirtz’s qualities in the final third. He might not have the direct contributions in the Premier League yet, but he has three assists in the Champions League. Wirtz would have created goals in the top flight but for poor finishing from team-mates on several occasions.
The early concerns were that Wirtz might not be suited to the physicality of playing in England. However, like players in the past, including Fabinho, Andy Robertson and Roberto Firmino, time was required to acclimatise.
Hamann might be factually correct that Wirtz has yet to decide a game in Liverpool’s favour. But he is becoming a key cog in a team that is starting to build momentum. If the Reds continue their run of form and Wirtz still has two duck eggs, but is still showing guile on the ball and resolve off it, Kopites will not care.
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