Daniel Farke can't resist Florian Wirtz comment ahead of Liverpool game with Leeds

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Liverpool will take on Leeds United in the Premier League on Thursday, with Daniel Farke unable to resist making a comment about Florian Wirtz's price tag ahead of the game

Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the Premier League match against Wolverhampton Wanderers.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Just a few weeks after playing Leeds United at Elland Road, Liverpool will host the Yorkshire side at Anfield in a much better position in the Premier League standings.

With Chelsea dropping points against Bournemouth on Tuesday and Manchester United unable to beat Wolves, Liverpool looks slightly more secure in its Champions League position in the table, though it needs to continue to build on its recent improved showings.

After hosting Leeds, Liverpool then has back-to-back away trips, facing Fulham and then Arsenal in London. A win on New Year's Day would bring it within four points of Aston Villa.

Central to the upturn in form that Liverpool has seen in recent weeks has been the strong performances from Florian Wirtz, who scored his first goal for the club against Wolves.

And Leeds boss Daniel Farke couldn't resist pointing to his price tag ahead of the game. Wirtz cost Liverpool a then-record sum of up to $157 million (£116 million) once the add-ons are triggered.

"Florian Wirtz is a player of unbelievable potential," Farke told reporters on Tuesday afternoon. "I think, just him alone, cost more money than the amount we spent in the summer on all of our signings."

Florian Wirtz is off the mark in a Liverpool shirt(Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Leeds spent around $145 million (£108 million) on new players in the summer after being promoted, needing to strengthen its roster to give itself a chance of staying up.

It is currently six points ahead of 18th-placed West Ham United and two points clear of Nottingham Forest in 17th.

"It was very nice," Wirtz told Premier League Productions after scoring against Wolves. "The feeling on the pitch with the fans around [the stadium]... I was very happy and I liked it!

"I was confident that I would score one day. Of course, I wanted to start scoring and assisting earlier, but it was like this.

"I had to accept it, but I just knew that it would come, and I just tried to keep going like that.

"It's not been an easy start for us, but I think in the last games we have been doing better and better and getting the points. We are just trying to win every game now and today we had the next three points, so it's good."

Liverpool.com says: Wirtz cost a lot of money for a reason: because he is one of the best players in the world. He has started to show that in recent weeks and still has more gears to move into.