The crisis of English football champion FC Liverpool, featuring German national player Florian Wirtz, is becoming increasingly threatening. The Reds lost 0-3 (0-2) against ex-champion Manchester City on the eleventh matchday of the Premier League, with Wirtz in the starting lineup.
Manchester’s team manager Pep Guardiola celebrated a prestigious success in his 1000th game as a coach. With the three points, City (22 points) remains close behind league leaders Arsenal FC (26).
Florian Wirtz remained pale again at Manchester City
Wirtz remains pale again
Liverpool has lost five of the past six league games and is already eight points behind Arsenal. The 22-year-old Wirtz remained pale again. The 125 million euro offensive star still has no scorer point in the Premier League and was substituted in the 83rd minute.
“He continues to have a hard time in the Premier League – with the intensity,” judged Sky expert René Adler. “We naturally set the standards of the Bundesliga, so we know him. And he is still far from that.”
Adler backs Wirtz
The former German national goalkeeper is far from writing off the DFB star at LFC.
“Arne Slot never tires of emphasizing: ‘Give the boy time.’ I see it similarly. This is a long-term investment. They will have thought very carefully about why they invested so much money in this exceptional player. I am absolutely convinced that he will come. It’s just a matter of time whether it will be in three months, maybe it won’t be his first season either. He still has a few years on his contract,” Adler explained and emphasized: “From the Reds’ point of view, it would be absolutely inexcusable if you question him now.”
Wirtz is still having a hard time
Wirtz himself is “very happy” to be able to play football for Liverpool. “I get to my playing time and also to my actions on the field. Therefore – it fits.” The 22-year-old knows about the difficulties he still has to overcome in England’s top league.
“It’s different. But after eleven games, I now know exactly what’s coming at me. That’s why I don’t need to mention it again and again now. I’m here now. And I’m just trying to contribute to our success. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out today. But we’re coming from a good week with two good wins. That was a small setback, we’re trying to attack again fully after the international break,” Wirtz emphasized at Sky .
Haaland misses a penalty – and then scores
On the other hand, Erling Haaland shone. First, the Norwegian superstar failed with a penalty against Liverpool’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili (13th minute), but shortly afterwards the former Dortmund player scored with a header (29th minute). It was already Haaland’s 14th goal of the season. Wirtz could not prevent the cross to the goalscorer. Nicolas Gonzalez increased the lead with a deflected shot from distance before the break (45.+3).
In the second half, Liverpool pushed for the equalizer, but missed some good chances. Jeremy Doku (63rd minute) did better on the other side. “Liverpool was inferior in every respect today,” summarized Adler.
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