Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison says Florian Wirtz was “exceptional” in spells, but warned there is work to be done after the Community Shield defeat to Crystal Palace.
The £116m German made his competitive debut for us at Wembley, setting up Hugo Ekitike’s early opener with a sharp turn and threaded pass.
Florian Wirtz praised for his Wembley performance
Hutchison, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily, said: “Florian Wirtz was the player who got me off the edge of my seat today.
“I thought some of his one touches and his awareness was brilliant.
“He always plays checking his shoulders and wants to play a forward pass and I thought he was exceptional for 40 minutes.”
Jeremie Frimpong’s chipped finish restored our lead after Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty, but Palace equalised again through Ismaila Sarr before winning 3-2 on spot-kicks.
Hutchison warns of early-season bedding-in period
While Hutchison praised the 22-year-old, he also noted Liverpool’s attacking shape suffered once Ekitike was withdrawn.
“I think what the game told you about Liverpool is that they are slightly behind in terms of bedding players in to a team and a system,” he said.
“Once Hugo Ekitike came off, they tried to gamble with Wirtz as a false nine… but today I thought it was a bit too much for him.”
Hutchison’s verdict suggests pre-season fluidity is still a work in progress and he’s not the only pundit to fire some criticism at the performance of the champions.
Liverpool have already signed Florian Wirtz in a Premier League record deal, and his debut showed why, even in defeat.
Palace’s win may sting, but Wirtz’s flashes of class will give us hope ahead of the league opener – with his chemistry with Hugo Ekitike being one major positive from a disappointing day for the Reds.
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Lots has been said about the central defence but most of the problems are in midfield.
Against palace Liverpool played 3 attacking midfielder’s. Szoboszlai and jones deeper and wirtz higher up. and it summed up liverpool , good with the ball, terrible without it. You look back to the second half of last season even with gravenberch and Liverpool were getting picked off on the counter attack, we weren’t winning any second balls or 50/50s. With wirtz now in the team the midfield is even more lightweight. The defence is getting exposed. Not enough pressing closing down from the midfield. Liverpool declined under klopp because the midfield that won the league declined. Henderson, wjinaldum and fabinho haven’t been replaced. We got away with it last season, but wont this season. even with Salah and his goals. The pressing game has long gone, because our midfield can’t do it. We don’t win the ball back quickly enough, it’s why the defence is easy to get at.