This was Crystal Palace’s day however it may properly be Liverpool’s season once more. For a brand new motive: Florian Wirtz.
A participant who may finally value Liverpool £116m confirmed what all of the noise was about.
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Wirtz was removed from his finest, and like a lot of his teammates, he drained within the second half, however the German’s mix of work-ethic and approach ensures he might be probably the most talked-about gamers of the season.
This was a narrative of two No7s: Wirtz and Ismaila Sarr, who excelled with a well-taken purpose and a nerveless conversion in Crystal Palace’s 3-2 shootout victory.
This was additionally a narrative of Dean Henderson impressing in purpose, and being serenaded as ‘England’s No.1’ by Palace followers. Adam Wharton was not far behind Sarr and Henderson in efficiency.
It was additionally a reminder of Oliver Glasner’s capability for mixing gamers into a powerful workforce. Palace fought again, hit again on the counter, and took their penalties higher.
However Palace are usually not within the reckoning to function prominently within the Premier League title race that begins on Friday. Liverpool are.
The champions host Bournemouth because the season opens, dwell on talkSPORT, and are understandably favourites for the Premier League. Wirtz is central to such billing.
He brings a lot to Liverpool. Liverpool have all the time had a historical past of strengthening when champions, courting again to Kenny Dalglish arriving for £440,000 from Celtic as Kevin Keegan left for Hamburg for £500,000 in 1977. The large purple juggernaut truly accelerated.
Wirtz will nonetheless want a while to settle in. Liverpool are usually not solely bedding within the 22-year-old however two rampaging full-backs, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, who each regarded the half.
Hugo Ekitike impressed at centre ahead and what may also excite Liverpool followers is the Frenchman’s link-ups with Wirtz.
For an hour till wanting drained, Wirtz was the conductor of the Liverpool orchestra. His presence eases the strain on Mo Salah.
Even nonetheless so younger, Wirtz knew when to dribble ahead and when to play it first time, usually to Ekitike, sometimes blind, not far away, and unerringly into the Frenchman’s ft. Wirtz commanded the ball, accepting it nonetheless many Palace gamers thronged round him.
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Early comparisons are being made with peak Philippe Coutinho by some Liverpool followers. Wirtz is a much more sturdy model of the Brazilian, simpler out of possession, urgent and masking again. He’s way more strong, his socks struggling to rise above these bulging calves.
It was attainable to detect occasional echoes of Paul Gascoigne in Wirtz’s dribbling, the ball dancing on the tip of his toes, inviting the problem earlier than whipping the ball away, and disappearing upfield.
Wirtz attracts such superlatives. One Bundesliga video compilation of Wirtz throughout his time at Bayer Leverkusen was entitled ‘essentially the most gifted participant in Bundesliga historical past?’
Members of Bayern Munich’s former gamers membership would possibly dispute that. However Wirtz is undoubtedly particular, a power on this era.
Definitely within the first half right here, Wirtz was in every single place, his many strengths in proof from the opening whistle. His motion was so clever.
Inside three minutes, the German worldwide glided into area on the left, taking the ball from Cody Gakpo. His contact was so robust, so intelligent. He threaded his move behind Chris Richards, transferring the ball shortly to Ekitike. Palace have been caught out.
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Wirtz’s touches are hardly ever in isolation. They’re notes in a sequence. He instantly ghosted into more room on the left to take the return from Ekitike.
His decision-making is swift and exact, shortly driving the ball to Ekitike’s left foot, understanding the scenario was made for the ball then to come back on to the striker’s proper. Ekitike duly scored.
Liverpool’s 7 was enjoying as a ten however dropping off, usually working as an 8.
Arne Slot has to juggle his midfield now. He ought to have Ryan Gravenberch obtainable for Friday after the Dutchman’s accomplice Cindy gave beginning to their first youngster on Friday.
With Wirtz finest on this 8/10 function, it’s between Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister for the third midfield place.
Wirtz is sort of two gamers in a single. He labored laborious out of possession, monitoring Daichi Kamada. When Kamada limped off, Wirtz harried his alternative Will Hughes. He challenged Hughes for an aerial ball, then continued throughout to dam Tyrick Mitchell’s tried move down the road. He’s selfless.
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He’s sometimes impetuous. Wirtz does gather bookings, 11 in 53 appearances final season with Bayer Leverkusen and Germany, and beginning early right here by drawing the disapproval of Chris Kavanagh for kicking the ball away.
When Hughes tugged him again briefly, Wirtz stopped, anticipating a free-kick that by no means got here. He threw his arms out in frustration and obtained a quick lecture from Kavanagh. Welcome to England.
Even when Wirtz seemed to be working out of steam, Slot eschewed the chance to relaxation him. Mac Allister and Wataru Endo got here on for Ekitike and Curtis Jones. Liverpool have been now four-box-two with Wirtz and Szoboszlai as twin 10s with Salah and Gakpo drifting in from vast.
Slot lastly withdrew Wirtz. Extra vital engagements lie forward. And Wirtz seems to be very a lot up for them.
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