Phil Thompson praises ‘incredible’ Liverpool star after Atletico Madrid win

Phil Thompson praises ‘incredible’ Liverpool star after Atletico Madrid win Florian Wirtz pressing display shows his growing Liverpool value There are nights when a footballer leaves the ground without the numbers that usually drive the debate, no goal, no assist, no headline moment, and yet his contribution can still tell you plenty. That was the case with Florian Wirtz in Liverpool’s win over Atletico Madrid. The easiest way to judge an attacking player is through goals and assists. It is tidy, simple and often lazy. Wirtz arrived with a £116m price tag and that inevitably brings a calculator mentality. Every touch gets measured against the fee. Every game gets viewed through the lens of whether he has delivered something decisive. Football does not always work like that. Against Atletico, Wirtz offered something that matters greatly under Andoni Iraola, intensity, discipline and the willingness to do the ugly side of the game. Credit for that observation belongs to Phil Thompson on the Official Liverpool FC Podcast, who highlighted exactly what many in the ground would have appreciated. Photo: IMAGO “I actually thought Alexander Isak played very well tonight without getting the joy of scoring,” he told The Official Liverpool FC Podcast. “And I thought there was a lot of positives all round.” Thompson then turned his attention to Wirtz, saying, “I thought the work rate of Florian Wirtz was incredible. That last 15 minutes where things were changing, his press was coming at the right time, because normally we look at Dominik [Szoboszlai], and this was another side to Flo. “I think people need to see what he did for the team.” Wirtz work rate adds another layer That gets to the heart of it. Some still picture Wirtz as a silky technician who drifts through matches waiting for one flash of brilliance. What Liverpool are seeing is a far fuller footballer. He presses with purpose, covers ground and reads moments well. Those qualities become vital when a match gets stretched and an opponent starts chasing. This was arguably his sharpest all-round display so far. He did not decorate the occasion, he influenced it. In a side being shaped by Iraola, that matters every bit as much as a moment for the montage. Our View As a Liverpool supporter, this is exactly the sort of report that lifts the mood because it speaks to something real. We all want big numbers from Florian Wirtz. Of course we do. When a player arrives for £116m, people expect fireworks every week. That is the modern game. But supporters who watch closely know there is another way of earning trust, and that is by working yourself into the team. What stands out here is that Wirtz is clearly buying into what Iraola wants. Pressing at the right time, helping the side late in games and showing the engine to keep going are all signs that he understands the job. That should excite Liverpool fans because the flair was never in doubt. If he is adding grit and discipline to his game, then the rest will come. It also helps when respected voices inside the club setup notice the details. A lot of players get praised for the obvious. Wirtz is being praised for the things that win hard matches. That tells you plenty. Supporters should be patient, but encouraged. If this is his level without a goal or assist, then there is a serious player taking shape at Anfield. Once the attacking returns arrive regularly, Liverpool could have a genuine star on their hands. Source: Phil Thompson on the Official Liverpool FC Podcast