Van Dijk encourages Wirtz to ´keep pushing´ after scoring first Liverpool goal
Florian Wirtz should continue to strive to keep his recent performances at their peak after finally scoring his first goal for Liverpool, according to Virgil van Dijk. Wirtz ended his goal drought with what became the decisive goal in a 2-1 win against Wolves on Saturday. The German winger has been struggling to regain his top form following his high-profile transfer from Bayer Leverkusen during the summer, although he made a significant impact in the match against Wolves. Wirtz successfully completed seven of his nine dribbles, the most by any Liverpool player in a Premier League match since Ryan Gravenberch against West Ham in April 2024. Van Dijk is eager to see Wirtz build momentum from his inaugural Liverpool goal, as the midfielder has now taken 22 shots in the Premier League, accumulating an expected goals (xG) value of 3.0. “I was really pleased for him,” Van Dijk remarked. “He had an excellent game. Everyone was exceptional in the first half. It’s wonderful to witness, and I hope to see many more performances like that from him. “He’s adjusting to playing for Liverpool and what we expect as a team. He’s acclimating to the intensity. Around the 70th minute, I believe he began to cramp. “It’s part of the game. He simply needs to keep progressing. That was a crucial goal for us, and now we look forward to New Year’s Day. “I think he runs almost everywhere. Sometimes on the left, sometimes in the center. “He’s an incredibly intelligent player who is very composed on the ball. He identifies spaces between the lines and can be tremendously valuable. “He aspires to contribute in terms of goals and assists. The effort he puts in and the opportunities he creates are, in my opinion, even more significant. I am truly happy for him, just like the rest of the team. You saw the celebrations. Everyone is thrilled for him.” Liverpool is currently on a six-match unbeaten streak in the league, with Arne Slot’s squad positioned fourth after 18 games. The Reds will host Leeds United on January 1.
Published: 2025-12-28 15:08:00
source: www.soccernews.com
