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beth lindop
Liverpool, England–With liverpool Surrounded inside their own half against Anfield wolverhampton wanderers, florian wertz dropped his shoulders and moved forward matt doherty To reduce pressure and prepare the hosts for attack.
That little display of ingenuity midway through the first half of the Reds 2-1 Saturday’s win set the stage for a masterful individual performance Germany At international level, he peaked by scoring his first goal for the club since a £100 million summer transfer. bayer leverkusen,
Seeing the way Wirtz was greeted by his excited teammates after beating the goalkeeper jose sa On 42 minutes, it’s fair to assume that his lack of solid attacking ability during his first few months on Merseyside has taken a toll on him. But, made his first appearance Premier League to help against Tottenham Hotspur Last weekend, the 22-year-old would have been justified in feeling that his numbers were now beginning to match his increasingly impressive performances for Arne Slot’s side.
Against Wolves, Wirtz took 104 touches and completed 71 of his 84 attempts. He also created three chances – more than anyone else on the pitch – and was quick in chasing down opposition defenders on those rare occasions when he had the ball. After spending months in the media spotlight, the midfielder’s latest outing indicated that a player is finally starting to shine on the Premier League stage.
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“The feeling on the pitch with the fans was great,” Wertz told Sky Sports after the match. “I was very happy and still am. I believed I would score one day. I wanted to start scoring and assisting earlier but it was the way it was and I have to accept it. I just know it will come and I try to move forward like that.”
Wirtz would also have been pleased to see his close friend and former Leverkusen teammate jeremy frimpong Star against Rob Edwards’ struggling side. This is his first league start since August Netherlands The international put in a brilliant performance from right-back, adding some much-needed pace and trickery to Liverpool’s play. Ryan Gravenberch Started the scoring in the 41st minute.
Just 90 seconds later, Wirtz doubled Liverpool’s tally after a brilliant pass. hugo akitikeThe hosts remained firmly in control against a Wolves team who are still without a league win this season. The Reds still somehow spent the afternoon with a feeling of anxiety santiago buenoA header shot from a corner early in the second half will undoubtedly cause nervousness for the slot. His team has now conceded 12 set-piece goals in the top flight this season.
Since the start of the campaign, Liverpool have conceded 2–0 leads on four separate occasions in all competitions. But for a surprise challenge from the substitute connor bradley to deny john arias Lately, that rotten record could have been extended to Saturday.
Slot said after the match, “Of course, if you’re 2-0 up at half-time you’re expecting something different from what we face in the second half, but in football a goal can change the momentum and that’s what you saw today.” “It’s not that after 2-1 we didn’t have possession of the ball, but it was very much an even game and then you get scared whenever they come, but I don’t think we missed too many big chances. Otherwise I saw a team that was struggling to get the win over the line, not with the best possible football, but a fair fight.”
Liverpool’s current lack of options off the bench is certainly not helping their cause in terms of game management. with striker alexander isaac Set to be sidelined for months after surgery on a broken ankle and fibia, and mohammed salah at a distance Africa Cup of Nations with egyptThe Reds lack game-changers and look light all over the pitch – something it might be wise to rectify in the January transfer window.
Nevertheless, Liverpool are now unbeaten in seven matches in all competitions and have taken 14 of the last 18 points available in the league. Central to that resurgence has been Wirtz’s improvement in form, and Slott praised the midfielder after Saturday’s game.
“I’m sure it was a relief for him,” the Dutchman said. “When he scored the goal I could see his reaction and it was the same with his teammates, they were really happy for him. In football, it’s right too, maybe, we are judged mainly on results and individuals are judged mainly on goals and assists and we sometimes forget what else to do during the game. “And I think he’s had a lot of good games for us, but I also think he’s getting better every game for us. Has been. He is getting more and more fit and getting closer to his first goal and it is no surprise that he scored today.
“He will be the first to understand that one goal is not enough. So hopefully he will score many more goals for us than just this one. But I also liked his performance during large parts of the game today, I think he was special in many moments.”
Of course, Slott is right: Wirtz cannot and will not be satisfied with just one goal against a team that may be heading for the lowest points total in Premier League history. But, now the bonds have finally been loosened, Liverpool will hope this is only the beginning for their new star player.
