Florian Wirtz faces new challenge as clear Liverpool problem emerges
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SportFootballLiverpool FCFlorian Wirtz will be expected to step up over the closing weeks of the season as Liverpool look to ensure Champions League qualificationIt was easy to miss at first. All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageWhile the Blues faithful spent much of the subsequent fallout searching in vain for a scapegoat for their 2-1 loss, Liverpool have instead been intent on harnessing the rare joy - at least for this campaign - of Virgil van Dijk heading in a dramatic winner 10 minutes into additional time.Having beaten Fulham the previous weekend, Liverpool can claim a third successive league win for only the third time since the opening five-game salvo and move to within touching distance of Champions League qualification when they step out on Saturday at Anfield.Palace have regularly proven party-poopers for the Reds over the years and the Conference League semi-finalists represent another notable challenge as they aim to become the first team to beat Liverpool four times over the course of a season.They thumped a scratch Reds team 3-0 at Anfield in the League Cup in October and netted a last-gasp winner to triumph 2-1 at Selhurst Park in the Premier League.
No player made more successful passes into the opposing penalty area in the Premier League over the weekend, with only Bruno Fernandes having created more chances from open play than Wirtz in the top flight this season.But there is always the nagging suspicion Wirtz can do more. And with his burgeoning partnership with Ekitike now curtailed for the foreseeable with the Frenchman facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after Achilles surgery, the Germany international must now start improving his understanding with fellow £100million-plus man Alexander Isak.There were some tentative flashes of it at Everton, but more will be required over the final five matches to show what Liverpool have been missing all season and justify the expensive outlay in the duo.
If the onus on Isak is to improve his fitness, the challenge for Wirtz will be to have a greater consistent impact where it counts.Liverpool have created on average the most chances per game in the Premier League this term and will be hopeful Isak can start turning more of those opportunities into goals. We have to go and show what we’ve got.”Isak and in particular Wirtz will be key to ensuring that.