Premier League icon Alan Shearer made a brutal quip about Florian Wirtz after the midfielder scored his first Liverpool goal at the weekend in the 2-1 win over bottom of the table Wolves
Alan Shearer joked that Premier League supporters should not get carried away now Florian Wirtz has scored his first Liverpool goal, as it was only against the division’s last-placed side. It was a moment six months in the making following the midfielder’s £116m arrival from Bayer Leverkusen.
A minute after Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring against Wolves at Anfield on Saturday, Wirtz benefitted from Hugo Ekitike’s confident build-up play to rush through on goal and poke the ball beyond Jose Sa. The strike proved crucial as the Reds emerged 2-1 winners against a team who are yet to record a win to date this season.
The matter is dire for Wolves that a supporter, ‘John’, made a submission to The Rest is Football podcast asking Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards not to discuss his club this week.
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The former took the conversation down the route of Wirtz’s man of the match performance, to which Richards replied: “Well, we said he was gonna be signing of the season so we need him to score a few more goals!
“They spent £100m and I was giving him the big spiel! ‘Into half spaces, he turns, he’s got technical ability’ – all these sorts of things, and he scores his first goals, which I’m absolutely buzzing but I want more because we gave him the big build-up!”
Shearer retorted: “Let’s not get carried away, it was only Wolves at home, guys,” then quickly added: “John, I’m winding you up!”
The Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer was left impressed with Wirtz’s growing partnership with one Liverpool teammate in particular.
“I tell you what, there is definitely a thing happening between him and Ekitike – the understanding, ball’s into each other and how they sort of compliment each other,” he admitted. “I thought that was really good yesterday.”
Wirtz himself has already answered Richards’ demand for more contributions in front of goal. Speaking to BBC Sport at the weekend, the 22-year-old said: “It was very nice the feeling on the pitch with the fans around. I was very happy and I still am.
“I was confident that I would score one day. I wanted to start earlier scoring and assisting but it was like this and I have to accept it. I just know that it will come and I try to keep going like that.
“We played a brilliant first half. Everyone was working hard. In the last 20 minutes, we made it a bit difficult. I cannot explain why. We have to change that.
“That’s how we want to do it. We want to be there and be on top of the table. It’s not been an easy start for us but we’re doing better and getting the points.”
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