'I saw Florian Wirtz reaction that spoke volumes as Liverpool narrative flips'

Liverpool did not play at its best against Wolves, creating next to nothing in the second half and scraping over the line, but there were positives, including Florian Wirtz

Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.(Image: Oli SCARFF / AFP via Getty Images)

It is amazing sometimes how much results change the narrative. Quite easily, given how Liverpool played against Wolves, we could have been having a debate about the defense again, or troubles from set-pieces.

Instead, Arne Slot could smile and be content that his side got the points. It didn’t play well second half, but it won. As a result of winning, that means the talk can be about the good stuff (Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz) and not the bad (a second 45 minutes of drifting).

It is worth remembering at this stage that Wolves were all over Liverpool in the second half last season at Anfield too. Ultimately, that will have been forgotten by many because of the result, and the same will apply here.

There were positives to take this time around as well: Frimpong was excellent here, putting in his best performance in a Liverpool jersey to date. Wirtz, likewise, shone again, scoring his first goal in the English game.

But Liverpool needed both players to get over the line. Frimpong broke the deadlock by shifting gears inside the penalty area and teeing up Ryan Gravenberch; Wirtz ensured the points were won with his calm finish.

For Wirtz, in particular, this was a huge moment, reflected in how the crowd — and his teammates — reacted. They were delirious, and much more so than a normal strike to move 2-0 up just before half-time.

Liverpool attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz.(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside via Getty Images)

As Wirtz wheeled away in celebration, the glee written across the faces of those around him was clear. He jumped into the air, and was piled on by several in red.

"I think I'm quite sure it was a relief for him, this I could see after his reaction after he scored the goal — and the same I saw with his teammates," Slot told reporters in his post-match press conference.

"I think they were really happy for him scoring his first goal because in football — rightly so, maybe — we mainly get judged on results and individuals mainly get judged on goals and assists. Sometimes we tend to forget what else there is to do during a game.

"I think he's had multiple good games for us, but I also feel he gets better and better every single game he is playing for us. He gets fitter and fitter and was getting closer and closer to his first goal.

"Then it was not a surprise to me that he scored one today, but he would probably be the first one to understand that one goal is not enough.

"He will score many more goals for us than only this one, but I also liked his performance during large parts of the game today. I think he was special in a lot of moments."

Wirtz did much more than just score, but goals are what he needs to add at Anfield. This was, as Slot also said, the first of many.

In general, this was only a starting point for Liverpool in terms of the potential of the attackers, who can still produce much more — and won't always be up against such feeble opposition. Defensively, meanwhile, there is much more work to do.

As Slot works out how it is best to do that, though, he can do so while sitting in fourth place — a considerable improvement from this time last month. The performance wasn't that much different from back then, but the result and narratives that follow certainly are.