Florian Wirtz gives Liverpool something they haven't had in YEARS
Florian Wirtz arrived in the Premier League as one of the most hyped players in recent memory, and now he’s finally living up to the fanfare.
When Liverpool splashed out a then-club record fee for the 22-year-old in the summer, many people assumed he would take the Premier League champions to the next level.
The Reds failed to hit the ground running this season however, and retaining their title now looks almost impossible, but Wirtz is now starting to look like the player Liverpool broke the bank for.
After initial struggles, the German international has now cemented his place in Arne Slot’s side and put in his best performance yet against Wolves.
Wirtz is what Liverpool have been missing for years
Although a 2-1 home win against bottom of the league is hardly a score line to write home about, Wirtz absolutely stole the show against Wolves.
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The German became the first Liverpool player since Luis Diaz in 2022 to record seven or more take-ons and also seven or more touches in the opposition penalty area in a Premier League game.
Only three times in the last decade has a Liverpool player recorded such numbers.
The Reds have been able to dominate their opponents with their clinical attack in recent years, but it is rare to see a player as involved as Wirtz was on Saturday.
Wirtz makes Liverpool more dynamic
Under Jurgen Klopp the Reds became famous for their intense pressing and ability to break down opponents with incredible speed on the break.
Since Slot took charge the emphasis has been less on speed and more on control, and that suits Wirtz to a tee.
A player with the ability to take on opponents consistently and be heavily involved in the box is exactly what Slot’s system requires.
The closest Liverpool had to that last season was Luis Diaz, who was sold in the summer, but Wirtz is even more comparable to someone of Philippe Coutinho’s profile, a player who many supporters feel was never truly replaced by the club.
As well as showing just how well he can take on a player, Wirtz also demonstrated his excellent passing ability, completing 54 passes in the final third against Wolves, the most any player has managed in a Premier League game this season.
If Wirtz can continue in his current form, there will be very few questioning the price Liverpool paid in the summer and it won’t be long until the Reds are once again competing at the very top level.
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