Alan Shearer proclaimed that one Liverpool player ‘made a difference’ in the 1-0 victory against Inter Milan on Tuesday night.
The Reds made light of their poor form in recent weeks and the drama over Mo Salah’s weekend outburst by putting in a composed, disciplined performance as they deservedly came away from the San Siro victorious for a fifth successive visit to the iconic venue.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty sealed the win, with the spot kick awarded after Alessandro Bastoni pulled the shirt of Florian Wirtz.
While both Andy Robertson and Jamie Carragher admitted that the referee’s decision may have been generous, the latter was also critical of the Italian defender for giving the officials an excuse to intervene.
Shearer praises difference-maker Wirtz
That was the German’s headline-grabbing contribution to Liverpool’s victory after coming off the bench midway through the second half, but Shearer felt that the 22-year-old was impactful throughout his time on the pitch last night.
Speaking on co-commentary for Amazon Prime Video Sport, the Newcastle legend said (via Anfield Index): “He has definitely made a difference, Wirtz, since coming on. He has been finding those little bits of space in front of that back five.”
Liverpool were far more threatening after Wirtz came on
Liverpool’s number 7 has come in for some scrutiny on these shores over his surprisingly low goals-and-assists output since his summer transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, but he’s more than passed the eye test in terms of the elegance of what he offers on the pitch.
Liverpool Echo reporter Ian Doyle echoed Shearer’s praise of Wirtz by writing that the German ‘instantly made a difference with his range of passing and intelligence on the ball’, handing him 8/10 in his post-match player ratings.
The Reds had been struggling to create much against a resolute Inter defence before the 22-year-old replaced Alexander Isak, but after that substitution they had six shots to the hosts’ one (WhoScored), which illustrates how the playmaker was able to penetrate the Nerazzurri backline.
As per Sofascore, Wirtz completed 100% of his dribbles and 86% of his passes (18/21), won two of his three duels and recorded one key pass. Of course, he also won the penalty from which Szoboszlai netted our winning goal.
All that’s missing for the Germany international is to make a more telling contribution in terms of goals and assists. Once he begins to do so, Liverpool will have one hell of a playmaker on their hands!
You can watch Slot’s full post-Inter Milan press conference below, via Empire of the Kop on YouTube:
Yep class act, makes me mad to see such talent wasted on the bench same as young Rio not doing his mentality sat on the bench week in week out. So it seems to me if you run around pointing you’re finger at teamates and shirking tackles you’ll be picked every week by that I mean curtis Jones, no matter what people say or praise him there’s no end product, same as Leeds game went missing in second half oh and lost possession 3 times
Only just realising that about Curtis Jones? He actually has very little awareness, often caught napping on the ball. Would be people screaming for him not to play, him being a scouser helps him massively. Jones is like a slightly better Jay Spearing.
Bradley and wirtz improved things going forward. Slot had to make changes to stop conceding goals so he packed the midfield against inter Milan. Gravenberch sat in front of the defence, and Alexis mac allister, Jones and szoboszlai were the three ahead, narrow. Two strikers up front. Away from home I would slightly change it again, with wirtz playing behind the main striker. We can’t Salah play there. With the four in midfield it gives more protection on the counter, we are harder to play through, the full backs give the width, and we have four players who can play as the lone striker. Wirtz, for me, that is his position, behind the striker with freedom to roam. Obviously we have three wide players and they wont play as wingers in this system.
If something is working, then why change. If you don’t concede goals you are in the game and you only need one goal to win the match. The inter Milan performance was Arsenal like. Grinding out the result.
Not brilliant attacking football, but at the moment this is what’s needed. Good defensively build on that.
Wirtz in for Isak and Bradley for Gomez against Brighton. Win the midfield and we should win the game.
Bradley is suspended