Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to seven games on New Year's Day but Arne Slot's ragged Reds continued to flatter to deceive in a drab 0-0 draw with Leeds United at Anfield. Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz had looked lively in the opening half hour on Merseyside, with both going close to breaking the deadlock. However, the English champions had run out of ideas by the final quarter of a largely uneventful game and Leeds looked to have nicked all three points through in-form forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin - only for the former Everton striker to be flagged for offside after hooking the ball into the net.
Liverpool host Leeds United on Thursday, less than a month since their last meeting at Elland Road. An awful lot has changed in the interim, though. Back on December 6, it appeared as if the wheels had well and truly come off Liverpool's season, with Mohamed Salah sensationally accusing Arne Slot of throwing him under the boss by once again benching him for a 3-3 draw that saw the Reds twice throw away the lead with more woeful defending from Ibrahima Konate & Co.
Florian Wirtz has been likened to a Liverpool legend after finally scoring his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League victory over winless Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Germany star has been praised for ending his long wait to break his duck, while team-mate Federico Chiesa has been defended following a quiet performance at Anfield.
Florian Wirtz has been placed on a ‘special bulk programme’ as Liverpool's summer signing continues to adapt to the intensity of the Premier League. After enduring a tough start to his journey in England following his £116million ($156.5m) summer arrival, the Germany international finally opened his account in the Premier League last weekend as he scored the winning goal against Wolves.
A lot of leagues and competitions take the festive period off but there was no break for players in England, Italy and Portugal over the weekend, while the action at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco resumed on December 26. The Premier League's top two, Arsenal and Manchester City, both picked up hard-fought wins on Saturday but Aston Villa remain very much in the title race after a massive win over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has suggested that it is only the start for Florian Wirtz at Anfield, after the German scored his first Premier League goal against Wolves on Saturday. Wirtz has had a challenging adaptation period since his £116million ($156.5m) summer arrival and Van Dijk emphasised he is "very happy" for his team-mate, citing his hard work for the team and stating that there is hopefully much more to come from Wirtz in a Reds shirt.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has backed Florian Wirtz to continue finding the back of the net after the midfielder finally scored his first goal for the club in Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Germany star ended his painful wait for a maiden goal in red as the Merseysiders moved into the top four with a tight victory at Anfield.
Liverpool moved into the top four with a nervy 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have set the record for the longest winless start to a Premier League season following their latest defeat. Florian Wirtz scored his first goal for the Reds, while Ryan Gravenberch found the back of the net for the first time since November, as Arne Slot's side earned all three points at Anfield.
Florian Wirtz would be receiving far more criticism if he was producing his current Liverpool form for Bayern Munich, according to Germany legend Thomas Muller. The Vancouver Whitecaps forward has weighed in on the performances of the Reds midfielder, who turned down interest from two European giants in favour of a big-money move to Anfield in the summer.
Liverpool star Florian Wirtz has been warned patience may be starting to run thin at Anfield after a slow start to his career on Merseyside following his £116m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen. The Germany international is still yet to open his account for the Reds and former midfielder Didi Hamann says he really needs to start coming up with the goods for his new club.
Arne Slot has revealed how Liverpool are helping Florian Wirtz amid an upturn in form following a slow start to life at Anfield. The German playmaker swapped Bayer Leverkusen for Merseyside this summer but he has not lived up to his huge £116 million ($156m) transfer fee. But a change in approach from the Reds may be helping the 22-year-old heading into Christmas.
It has been suggested, by Dietmar Hamann, that Liverpool could look to sell £125 million ($167m) striker Alexander Isak to Barcelona in the summer of 2026. Anfield future questions are also being asked of £116m ($155m) playmaker Florian Wirtz, while talk of Jurgen Klopp returning to Merseyside in a managerial capacity has been addressed by a former Reds star.
Liverpool star Florian Wirtz was felled by a high tackle from Brighton's Diego Gomez at the end of the first half of Saturday's 2-0 Premier League win for the Reds at Anfield. The challenge angered many Liverpool fans, who felt Gomez should have seen red, but the Premier League have confirmed why only a booking was handed out to the Paraguay international.
Nick Woltemade has hit back at the “absurd” criticism aimed at Germany teammate Florian Wirtz after the Liverpool star’s slow start in the Premier League, insisting the £116 million signing will prove his quality in England. With Wirtz yet to score for Liverpool and facing scrutiny over his adaptation, Woltemade’s public defence adds fresh weight to calls for patience.
Florian Wirtz was denied a first strike for Liverpool after the Premier League's goal accreditation panel judged his effort against Sunderland to be an own goal from Nordi Mukiele. The German midfielder showed great close control to weave his way through the penalty box before shooting, with his effort taking a significant deflection off the Black Cats defender on its way into the back of the net.
A deflected Florian Wirtz strike helped Liverpool salvage a 1-1 draw with Sunderland on Wednesday in what was another hugely underwhelming performance from the reigning Premier League champions. The Reds looked set for another defeat after Chemsdine Talbi's opener, but clawed their way back to earn a point after a moment of magic from their German summer signing.