On an emotionally charged afternoon at Anfield, the decisive moment of the match brought more relief than joy. Florian Wirtz received a superb through ball from Hugo Ekitike and managed to slip it past Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa. It was his first goal for Liverpool in 23 appearances since his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
The Germany international celebrated at the corner of the main stand and near the end of Anfield Road, where he was quickly swarmed by his fellow Reds players. The home crowd also recognized the importance of this long-awaited goal for a player whose contribution is not always reflected in the scoreline despite Arne Slott’s increasing influence on an evolving team.
An early example of this was when a great pass from Wirtz allowed Ekitike to beat the Wolves defense and fire a shot that hit the far post.
But Wirtz has shown remarkable resilience lately. Playing on the left was not what Slott had originally envisaged as a high-profile signing, but it gave the 22-year-old a stable starting position, allowing him to build confidence, develop relationships with his team-mates and gain experience in the Premier League.
Indeed, it was fitting that Wirtz, the match’s standout player, sealed the match with a goal just a minute after Ryan Gravenbirch took advantage of Jeremy Frimpong’s counterattack to break the visitors’ well-drilled but limited resolve.
Interestingly, Wirtz’s two big moments came from a central position, highlighting the attacking freedom he is afforded by the slot, despite his ostensible wing position.
Wirtz made a commendable defensive switch when the situation became difficult as Santiago Bueno slotted home after Alisson Becker had saved Toro Arokodare’s header and Liverpool conceded yet another goal from a set-piece. This was evident when he sprinted back to clear the ball as the defense hesitated.
The standing ovation he received from the home crowd when he was substituted in the final stages spoke volumes.
Wirtz has therefore ensured that Liverpool end a tumultuous year on a positive note. There are now growing suspicions that the attacking midfielder is starting to make his mark at Anfield.
Let’s welcome the new year.
