Wirtz Nets First Liverpool Goal in Victory Fueled by Slot’s Belief Against Wolves

First Goal in 17 Premier League Matches

After a wait of over six months following his €116 million transfer from Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Florian Wirtz finally scored his first goal for Liverpool on Saturday, putting an end to a lengthy 23-game drought, with 17 matches in the league. The relief was palpable not just for the German playmaker, but also for manager Arne Slot and the fans gathered at Anfield. The team may not have delivered a stellar performance in their 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Wolves, still seeking their first league win of the season, but Wirtz’s impressive all-around display raised hopes for a bright future on Merseyside.

Just 23 days earlier, Wirtz believed he had scored his first goal in a match against Sunderland, silencing critics who had mocked him with ‘007’ memes highlighting his goal drought. Unfortunately for him, the Premier League’s independent panel ruled it an own goal by Nordi Mukiele, denying him the score. However, just after Christmas, he received the long-awaited gift he had been hoping for.

During a dynamic run through the midfield, Hugo Ekitiké delivered a perfectly-timed pass to Wirtz inside the box. With a deft first touch, Wirtz maneuvered the ball away from his defender, and despite Jose Sa’s desperate attempt to narrow the angle, the 22-year-old expertly slid the ball into the bottom right corner, igniting celebrations among the fans. This goal came after a frustrating first half as Wolves defended resolutely under Rob Edwards, who was determined to halt their string of poor performances—having earned only two points from their last 17 matches, with 15 losses.

Ryan Gravenberch opened the scoring at the 41-minute mark, and Wirtz quickly followed suit just a minute later, suggesting a tough afternoon was ahead for the visitors. However, Wolves showed resilience and pulled one back through Bueno in the 53rd minute. Despite their efforts, Liverpool maintained their lead and held on for the win, keeping them within nine points of league leaders Arsenal with 20 matches remaining—a deficit that is far from insurmountable, especially as their form seems to be improving.

A further positive for Slot, who has guided the team to four victories in their last five games, was the contributions from his summer signings—Wirtz, Ekitiké, and Jeremie Frimpong—all contributing to Liverpool’s goals for a second consecutive week. With Alexander Isak sidelined due to a broken fibula and Mohamed Salah participating in the Africa Cup of Nations, Slot will increasingly rely on Wirtz to help bear the load in scoring and creating opportunities. With three contributions in six matches, the Dutch manager will feel reassured that his summer recruit is beginning to find his stride in England after a challenging start.