Florian Wirtz Breaks Silence on Criticism After Impressive Liverpool Performance
Florian Wirtz has responded to the growing attention surrounding his performances after helping Liverpool secure a 2-0 Premier League victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 23-year-old played a key role in the opening goal when his effort took a deflection off Pascal Gross and found the back of the net. Although Wirtz was not officially credited with a goal or an assist, his contribution proved important in helping the Reds claim all three points.
His latest performance continued an encouraging run of form. Wirtz had previously provided assists for Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz before scoring in Liverpool’s matches against Brentford and Villarreal, respectively.
The Germany international has now recorded two goals and four assists for club and country in 14 appearances this season. Five of those contributions have arrived in his last seven outings, highlighting his improvement throughout October.
However, Wirtz’s recent resurgence comes after a difficult period in which he faced criticism in both England and Germany. Following an underwhelming debut season at Anfield, a disappointing World Cup and a quiet start to the current campaign under new head coach Andoni Iraola, questions had been raised about his performances.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was among his most outspoken critics, repeatedly suggesting that Wirtz should be dropped from the starting lineup. Carragher renewed those calls after Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month.
With the midfielder now delivering more impressive displays, he has made it clear that outside criticism will not distract him from his football.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the Brighton victory, Wirtz joked about the attention he receives before explaining his approach.
“Maybe I’m just an interesting guy, you know?” he said. “No, I just play my football. If people want to talk about me or judge me, that’s their job. I’m not focusing on that. I just want to play football, and more I cannot do.”
He admitted that his performances had not always been at the required level but expressed satisfaction with his recent progress.
“I think many things weren’t so good in the last month, so I’m even happier that it’s going well at the moment. It’s really enjoyable,” Wirtz added.
The German also praised Liverpool’s mentality against Brighton, explaining that the team started strongly, competed well in individual battles and created several opportunities before concentrating on protecting their lead.
He believes the Reds are moving in the right direction and must maintain their current momentum to achieve their objectives.
Speaking separately to Sky Deutschland, Wirtz delivered an even stronger response to those questioning his performances.
“I don’t pay any attention to it at all. I really couldn’t care less what anyone has to say about me. Everyone is welcome to talk about me. I simply play football because I enjoy it. Of course, I want to be successful,” he declared.
Wirtz Provides Injury Update After Brighton Victory
Meanwhile, Wirtz has offered a reassuring update regarding the ankle problem that forced him off during the win over Brighton.
The midfielder was substituted for Trey Nyoni in the 65th minute after going down and receiving treatment both on the pitch and on the sidelines.
Iraola subsequently admitted that Wirtz could be a doubt for Liverpool’s upcoming midweek League Cup encounter with Chelsea because of the injury.
However, the German playmaker does not believe the problem is particularly serious and is hopeful of returning to action soon.
“I think it should be all right. It’s not too bad. I don’t know much yet; we have to check it, but it won’t be long,” Wirtz explained.
He also told Sky Deutschland that further examinations were still required but remained optimistic about his recovery.
“We haven’t done any tests yet, but I think it’s not too serious. I’ve been twisting my ankle a bit over the last few weeks. I need to get that sorted out somehow. Then I think I’ll be back for the next game,” he said.
Liverpool will now await the results of further medical assessments to determine whether Wirtz will be available for their next fixture.h
