Wirtz can do in the Premier League what no one has done for 15 years

There was special praise from the boss: Florian Wirtz was one of the key players in Liverpool FC's 2-1 win at Brentford and even broke a Premier League record. Wirtz not only set up Víctor Muñoz to make it 1-1, but also created eight more chances to score.

Nine chances in one game – according to data provider “OptaJoe”, Sadio Mané last prepared that many for Liverpool in January 2021. A similar performance away from home was fifteen years ago: Samir Nasri created ten chances for Manchester City at Tottenham in 2011.

Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola then raved about Wirtz. “Especially in the second half, in a situation like that you need a player like Flo,” he said. "There is little space on the pitch, only small gaps, you don't have much time with the ball. You have to recognize the subtleties because Brentford defend very, very well as a team in the penalty area."

Things are going better for Wirtz under the new coach

However, Brentford played the entire second half outnumbered. Yegor Yarmolyuk was shown red for assault. In stoppage time, national player Vitaly Janelt was also sent off with a yellow-red card. The Londoners finished the game with nine men.

For Wirtz, the game and the coach's praise should be a balm for his footballer's soul. Coming to Liverpool as a royal transfer, the DFB star had to endure repeated criticism.

His record so far reads as follows: seven goals and eleven assists in 56 competitive games for Liverpool. Particularly bitter: In the last Premier League season he did not manage to score against any of the top 10 teams. But under new coach Iraola, Wirtz seems to be slowly returning to his strength. Against Brentford he delivered one of his most striking performances in a Liverpool jersey - the right reaction after the setback against Manchester City (0-3) last week.