Florian Wirtz Finally Breaks Liverpool Duck: "Have to Accept It" He Says After Long-Awaited Breakthrough
Florian Wirtz revealed he maintained unwavering belief that he would end his goal drought for Liverpool following his match-winning strike in Saturday's tight 2–1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The German midfielder became the most costly acquisition in British football history when Liverpool agreed to pay former Bundesliga titleholders Bayer Leverkusen a fee reaching £116 million ($157.8 million) for Wirtz's services, though this record was swiftly surpassed when £125 million was subsequently spent on Newcastle United forward Alexander Isak.
Regrettably for Liverpool, both Wirtz and Isak have experienced demanding beginnings at Anfield. For the 22-year-old Wirtz, adapting to the Premier League's intensity and physical demands has proven challenging, with the creative midfielder struggling to influence matches and control tempo as he did effortlessly in the German top flight.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot attempted deploying Wirtz in a wide-left role, hoping he could create opportunities by cutting inside from the flank, but was ultimately compelled to bench the German following his lack of early progress.
However, a marked upturn in form during Liverpool's recent fixtures culminated in Wirtz finally finding the net against bottom-placed Wolves—though his goal that extended the champions' lead to 2–0 failed to trigger an avalanche of scores as anticipated, with the visitors mounting a comeback that forced Liverpool to battle for their victory.
Wirtz: I Had to Accept Tough Start and Believe
"The sensation was wonderful, experiencing that atmosphere on the field with supporters all around," Wirtz commented in his post-game interview. "I felt tremendous joy and still do, I'm loving it. I maintained confidence that I would eventually find the back of the net, though naturally I hoped to begin scoring and creating assists sooner. That's how things unfolded, I must embrace it, but I always believed the moment would arrive."
"We delivered an outstanding opening 45 minutes and I believe everyone put in tremendous effort," he added regarding Liverpool's complete performance. "However, during the second period, particularly the final 25 minutes, we created unnecessary complications for ourselves. I struggle to understand why, but we must address this during training sessions. We need to rectify this issue.
"This represents our desired approach. We aim to maintain our position at the summit of the standings. The beginning hasn't been straightforward, but our recent performances show continuous improvement. We're determined to secure victory in every match."
Slot: I Could Feel Wirtz's Relief at First Goal
Wirtz's breakthrough moment arrived merely 89 seconds following Ryan Gravenberch's opener, with their combined efforts prolonging Liverpool's Premier League undefeated streak to six matches—a run of form that has restored Slot's squad to top-four contention after an inexplicable downturn that witnessed Liverpool suffer six defeats in seven games spanning late September through November.
Slot expressed natural satisfaction regarding Wirtz's contribution, highlighting his player's recent improvement in overall displays and enhanced adjustment to Premier League football.
"I'm quite certain it brought him immense relief, which I witnessed through his celebration following the goal—and I observed the same reaction from his teammates," Slot explained during his post-match media briefing. "I believe they felt genuine happiness for him scoring his maiden goal because in football—justifiably, perhaps—we're predominantly evaluated on outcomes and players are primarily assessed on goals and assists. Occasionally we overlook the additional contributions made throughout a match.
"I believe he's delivered several strong performances for us, but I also sense he's improving with each appearance in our colors. His fitness levels are increasing and he was edging closer to his inaugural goal. Therefore, it didn't surprise me that he scored today, though he would likely be first to acknowledge that one goal isn't sufficient.
"He will undoubtedly score numerous additional goals for us beyond this single strike, but I also appreciated his contribution throughout significant portions of today's contest. I thought he demonstrated exceptional quality in many instances."