Liverpool player now looks set to hit form at just the right time after 'awful' start to the season - opinion
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The pressure on Florian Wirtz’s shoulders has been immense, but the tides might be starting to change.
Despite picking up maximum points after the first three games of the new season, the only side to do so, Liverpool have not exactly been the most convincing.
One reason for this is because the majority of their new signings, bar Hugo Ekitike, have struggled to hit the ground running upon their arrival.
Florian Wirtz is the one who gets the most scrutiny due to his price tag, even if at points the criticism is not exactly justifiable.
For his country, however, he often manages to turn his form around and prove any doubters wrong, which is exactly what he did against Northern Ireland on Sunday evening.
And, based on everything he did in this game, it looks like he has hit form at the perfect time given who Liverpool’s next opponents are.
Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
The pressure Wirtz must feel at Liverpool must be huge, but the pressure he must feel as the face of German football is surely even greater.
However, based on his performance on Sunday evening, it does not look like he lets this get to him one bit.
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Not only did he score a stunning free-kick to give Germany a two-goal cushion, but his overall performance was excellent, not to mention how it has come at the best time possible.
Wirtz created more chances than anyone on the pitch (3), something that could come in handy against Burnley on Sunday.
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The newly-promoted side are largely expected to deploy a low block to try and frustrate Liverpool, something that means special players are needed to unlock the defence.
Wirtz is the ideal candidate for this, despite being labelled as ‘awful’ by Gary Neville, as he can split the lines and create opportunities, especially when given time and space to do so, something Burnley will likely allow him.
The 22-year-old also won Player of the Match against Northern Ireland and was fouled more times than anyone else (4), meaning Reds fans will be praying that he is back to his best and is ready to show the Premier League why he was signed.
Ever since he took his first one basically, it was almost always Trent Alexander-Arnold who took Liverpool’s free-kicks, meaning no one really knew who else was capable.
However, Reds players have now scored two in one week, with Dominik Szoboszlai winning the Reds the game against Arsenal last weekend, and now Wirtz netting one for his country.
This means that Liverpool have at least two seriously dangerous players from free-kicks, something that could be the difference between winning and losing – as seen against Arsenal.
If they struggled to break Burnley down on Sunday, this is something that could prove beneficial, and perhaps their only chance of finding the back of the net against a resolute defence.