Florian Wirtz makes Champions League promise and explains what Liverpool 'owes' to fans

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Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz has been speaking following the defeat to PSG in the Champions League, with Arne Slot's side in need of a few more wins

Florian Wirtz battles for possession during Liverpool vs PSG in the Champions League.(Image: Ryan Crockett/DeFodi via Getty Images)

Florian Wirtz has promised that Liverpool will do everything it can to get back into the Champions League after being eliminated by PSG.

As things stand, with six Premier League matches left of the season, Arne Slot's men are fifth — four points clear of Chelsea. Finishing there would guarantee a return to UEFA's top competition after a tough campaign.

When Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, the aim was to win the title and challenge in Europe too, but that hasn't proven possible. If Liverpool can at least get back into the Champions League, that would aid the cause of attempting to get back on track next time around.

"We have to play [in the] Champions League next season — we owe this to the club and to the fans," Wirtz told club media.

"The focus goes completely to the end of the season for the league. We will give our best, like we did [on Tuesday], and hopefully we can make minimum the top five."

Against PSG earlier in the week, Liverpool fought and battled but couldn't find a way through. And the serious injury sustained by Hugo Ekitike was another major blow.

Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak of Liverpool(Image: Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)

"We tried everything," Wirtz said. "I think the whole stadium was on fire and the fans, big compliments to them.

"We tried everything from the first minute, but we needed that one goal to get the turnaround started. We were just missing the goal. That’s football — when you don’t score goals, you don’t win games.

"When you are 2-0 down from the first leg, you just need one goal and at best [it comes] in the first half. We tried everything.

"In the first half, it was a bit more difficult to create chances. Then in the second half we got some good chances.

"But in the end, there was the little thing that was missing to score the goal. It’s frustrating but we have to take it and move on."

Liverpool.com says: Wirtz is going to be a top player for the Reds, but he needs those around him to be performing better before that happens and he can take the next step.

Next season, with a bit more pace around him in attack and a fully-firing Alexander Isak, we should see even more from the German, with Wirtz already having made a decent start.