Florian Wirtz will be expected to step up over the closing weeks of the season as Liverpool look to ensure Champions League qualification
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on April 23 2026 in Kirkby
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on April 23 2026 in Kirkby(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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It was easy to miss at first. But a cheeky aside at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday perhaps highlighted a change of mood among the Liverpool squad as they aim to end a disappointing campaign with something of a flourish.
The club's social media channel released a video showing the players as they greeted each other ahead of the latest preparations for the weekend Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
And while it was only brief, the strains of Starship's 80s smash "We Built This City" could be heard in the background as well as being crooned by Andy Robertson.
Of course, that was the tune Everton were keen to push as they made much of their origins ahead of last Sunday's first-ever Merseyside derby at their new £750million Hill Dickinson Stadium home.
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While the Blues faithful spent much of the subsequent fallout searching in vain for a scapegoat for their 2-1 loss, Liverpool have instead been intent on harnessing the rare joy - at least for this campaign - of Virgil van Dijk heading in a dramatic winner 10 minutes into additional time.
Having beaten Fulham the previous weekend, Liverpool can claim a third successive league win for only the third time since the opening five-game salvo and move to within touching distance of Champions League qualification when they step out on Saturday at Anfield.
Palace have regularly proven party-poopers for the Reds over the years and the Conference League semi-finalists represent another notable challenge as they aim to become the first team to beat Liverpool four times over the course of a season.
They thumped a scratch Reds team 3-0 at Anfield in the League Cup in October and netted a last-gasp winner to triumph 2-1 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League. And in the traditional season curtain-raiser, they came from behind twice to force a 2-2 Community Shield draw before winning on penalties.
That Wembley date saw Florian Wirtz assist the opener for Hugo Ekitike after only four minutes. And while the 22-year-old was impressive during the winter months, his return in terms of goal contributions has diminished in recent weeks.
His performance at Everton was a snapshot of his form. No player made more successful passes into the opposing penalty area in the Premier League over the weekend, with only Bruno Fernandes having created more chances from open play than Wirtz in the top flight this season.
But there is always the nagging suspicion Wirtz can do more. And with his burgeoning partnership with Ekitike now curtailed for the foreseeable with the Frenchman facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after Achilles surgery, the Germany international must now start improving his understanding with fellow £100million-plus man Alexander Isak.
There were some tentative flashes of it at Everton, but more will be required over the final five matches to show what Liverpool have been missing all season and justify the expensive outlay in the duo. If the onus on Isak is to improve his fitness, the challenge for Wirtz will be to have a greater consistent impact where it counts.
Liverpool have created on average the most chances per game in the Premier League this term and will be hopeful Isak can start turning more of those opportunities into goals. Tellingly, three of the four teams above them in the table have scored more.
So to the weekend. "The spirits are good now, everyone is excited to go for the match on Saturday because Crystal Palace have beaten us three times this season," said Jeremie Frimpong. "We want to show that we can beat them.
“It’s not good getting beat three times so this is another meaningful game. We have to go and show what we’ve got.”
Isak and in particular Wirtz will be key to ensuring that. Five games to go.