Florian Wirtz finally announced himself in a Liverpool shirt as the Germany midfielder scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield. The result lifted Arne Slot’s side into the top four after a nervy but decisive evening on Merseyside.
Liverpool had the breakthrough they needed late in the first half, striking twice in quick succession to seize control of a match that had threatened to drift. Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring before Wirtz followed moments later, giving the hosts a cushion they ultimately needed.
The build-up to kick-off carried clear stakes. Liverpool arrived on a five-game unbeaten league run, fresh from wins over Brighton and Tottenham, knowing victory would take them above Chelsea. Wolves, winless in their previous 17 league matches, arrived short on confidence but stubborn in approach.
Anfield provided the usual intensity as Liverpool pushed early, moving the ball with patience while Wolves stayed compact and disciplined. Jeremie Frimpong was heavily involved down the right, stretching the visitors and probing for openings as the hosts gradually turned the screw.
Clear chances were limited before the interval, with Wolves defending their box aggressively and Jose Sa alert to danger. The breakthrough finally arrived when Frimpong’s cutback found Gravenberch, who struck cleanly past the goalkeeper to end his own scoring wait.
Liverpool doubled their lead barely a minute later. Hugo Ekitike surged forward on a driving run, drew defenders, and slipped a composed pass into Wirtz’s path. The midfielder kept his nerve and guided the finish home, releasing the pressure that had followed him since his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen.
The second half brought a different rhythm. Wolves pushed higher, forcing Liverpool to defend deeper and breaking the hosts’ early dominance. Slot adjusted his shape to protect the lead as chances came at both ends, though the home side struggled to regain their first-half fluency.
Late on, tension crept into the stands as Wolves threatened a comeback and Liverpool made life uncomfortable for themselves. Missed clearances and hurried decisions invited pressure, but the hosts held firm to secure the points.
The goal marked a significant moment for Wirtz, who had already registered his first league assist against Tottenham in December. Slot believes it is the start of a productive spell, with Leeds United, Fulham and league leaders Arsenal waiting in a demanding eight-day run.
Liverpool move forward with momentum and renewed belief, while Wirtz now has his first Anfield goal behind him. For Slot’s side, the focus turns to sustaining their climb and turning narrow wins into a platform for the weeks ahead.
