Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz produced a stunning response to recent criticism from pundit Gary Neville, delivering a player-of-the-match performance as the Reds secured a crucial 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.
Wirtz's Perfect Response
The Germany international made his first start for Liverpool since the defeat to Manchester City before November's international break, having missed disappointing losses against Nottingham Forest and PSV Eindhoven with a minor injury. Wirtz's return couldn't have been more timely, coming just weeks after Neville's harsh assessment where the Sky Sports pundit claimed the 22-year-old "looked like a little boy" during the Manchester City defeat and represented a "problem" for manager Arne Slot.
Speaking on his podcast earlier this month, Neville didn't hold back: "Wirtz is a problem. Let's just call it as it is. It's an issue. He's £100m-plus and, to be fair, I said a few weeks ago [Milos] Kerkez looked like a little boy out there. Today I thought Wirtz looked like a little boy. That can't be the case."
Dominant Display Against West Ham
Against West Ham, Wirtz comprehensively answered his critics with an exceptional display, particularly during the first half where he became the focal point of Liverpool's attacking play. The attacking midfielder achieved a remarkable 95% passing accuracy – the highest of any player who featured for at least 45 minutes – and was instrumental in most of Liverpool's promising moves.
While Wirtz struggled to provide the final touch, exemplified by a weak first-half shot directly at West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, he played a crucial role in Alexander Isak's opening goal. Wirtz provided the pre-assist, intelligently finding Cody Gakpo in space to set up the breakthrough. His influential performance earned him man-of-the-match honours before he was substituted for Curtis Jones.
Carragher's Balanced Assessment
Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher offered a more measured perspective on Wirtz's start to life at Liverpool before the match. While acknowledging the player's evident talent and consistent involvement, Carragher emphasised that Wirtz needs to develop greater end product.
"I want to see him having a big impact on games and that hasn't happened yet," Carragher stated on Sky Sports. "He's been neat and tidy and that's the best way you could describe his Liverpool career so far. He wants to be between the lines. Eventually, going forward - and he's found it tough centrally - wide left is the position he might find himself in."
The victory provides Liverpool with a platform to build upon as they prepare for Sunderland's visit to Anfield during the week, followed by a trip to Leeds United next weekend. Manager Arne Slot will be hoping this performance marks the beginning of a sustained period of positive results for his team.
