'Great touch': Two Liverpool players hailed for their 'brilliant' part in Florian Wirtz's goal against Burnley

By Eoin Morris | January 17, 2026

In a frustrating 1-1 draw against promoted Burnley at Anfield, Liverpool's attack showed fleeting brilliance through Florian Wirtz's opening goal, with two players earning high praise for their pivotal roles in the build-up.[1][3][4]

The match, which ended in disappointment for the Reds amid another underwhelming display, saw Wirtz strike first in the first half, putting Liverpool ahead before Marcus Edwards equalized for the visitors.[1][2] Despite the final scoreline leaving fans frustrated, attention quickly turned to the exquisite team play that led to Wirtz's clinical finish.[3]

Writing for Rousing the Kop, the article hails Trent Alexander-Arnold and Hugo Ekitike for their "brilliant" contributions. Alexander-Arnold, deployed in a hybrid role, delivered a "great touch" with a perfectly weighted diagonal pass that bypassed Burnley's press, finding Ekitike in space on the left flank.[5]

Ekitike, described as Liverpool's "relentless 33-touch star," then produced a game-defining moment. The forward, who touched the ball 33 times in a tireless performance, controlled the pass impeccably before driving infield, evading two challenges, and laying off a precise through-ball to Wirtz, who slotted home with composure.[5][2] Pundits noted Ekitike's "outstanding" hold-up play and vision as key to unlocking Burnley's defense, deserving far more credit than the goalscorer alone.[5]

Wirtz, standing out in player ratings amid a "stinking Reds display," continued to trouble Burnley post-goal, linking with Cody Gakpo in the second half, though chances went begging.[3][6] The piece argues this sequence highlights Liverpool's potential when key players click, urging manager Arne Slot to build around such patterns despite dropping points to another promoted side.[4]

Fans on social media echoed the sentiment, with clips of the move going viral, praising the duo's synergy as a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster outing.[2]

(Word count: 298)