Liverpool's record signing Florian Wirtz endured another moment of cruel fortune on Wednesday night as his wait for a first Reds goal was extended in a frustrating 1-1 draw with Sunderland at Anfield.
Late Strike Cruelly Credited to Defender
The £116million summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen thought he had finally broken his duck in the Premier League clash. In the latter stages, his effort beat Black Cats goalkeeper Robin Roefs and nestled in the net, prompting initial celebrations.
However, the goal was officially attributed to Sunderland's Nordi Mukiele, with the Premier League's match officials deeming the shot was heading wide before taking a decisive deflection. The 22-year-old German international was then informed of the decision live on air during a post-match interview with Sky Sports.
Wirtz's Visible Disappointment and Team-First Mentality
Wirtz's visible disappointment was clear for viewers to see, but the playmaker was quick to shift the focus onto the team's result. "It doesn't matter today," Wirtz stated. "We drew, we wanted to win - that's all that counts today."
This moment added to a night of frustration for the attacker, who had also been smartly denied by Roefs in the first half. While he will be credited with the assist for Mukiele's own goal—his first in the Premier League to add to two in the Champions League—the personal milestone remains elusive.
Looking Ahead for Liverpool and Wirtz
Reflecting on the performance with club media, Wirtz insisted Liverpool are close to rediscovering their best form. "We have unbelievable quality in the changing room – personalities and great players," he said. "We just have still to find each other a bit more and to create a bit better momentum for us and then I think everything will go in our direction soon."
The Reds now face a quick turnaround, with a tough trip to face a Leeds United side fresh from beating Chelsea next, followed by a crucial final Champions League group game against Inter Milan. The focus for Wirtz and his teammates remains on converting performances into victories.
