Eintracht Frankfurt 1 – 5 Liverpool – Champions League Man of the Match

Florian Wirtz

At £115m, Florian Wirtz was always destined to carry the weight of expectation. The mercurial German arrived at Anfield billed as the creative successor to Liverpool’s past glories — a technical marvel and cerebral playmaker intended to thread together a new-look front line. Yet until this evening, his integration had felt fractured and uncertain, caught between flashes of brilliance and the harsh adaptation period of English football.

In Frankfurt, against familiar Bundesliga opposition, Wirtz finally unveiled the brilliant performance Liverpool supporters had been waiting for. Sharp, inventive, and constantly available between the lines, the 22-year-old orchestrated the Reds’ most complete attacking display of the new Arne Slot era. His two assists were emblematic of his growing influence: one a perfectly weighted cross for Cody Gakpo to consolidate the lead, and another a deft slide ball that allowed a blistering strike from distance. Beyond the numbers, though, was the composure — a renewed sense of control that has often been missing from Liverpool’s midfield this season.

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There was an unmistakable harmony between Wirtz and those around him. Curtis Jones, restored to the starting eleven, anchored the midfield with his usual blend of rhythm and intelligence. His ability to dictate tempo allowed Wirtz and Dominik Szoboszlai to operate higher, creating the kind of vertical combinations that tore Frankfurt open. Szoboszlai, too, looked every bit the powerhouse Liverpool envisioned — driving through lines, pressing relentlessly, and capping his evening with a thunderous long-range goal.

Together, the trio formed a midfield that balanced craft and conviction, hinting that Slot’s tactical framework may finally be settling into place.

As for Wirtz, this was the night he stepped out of the shadows. Every touch carried intent; every movement was measured. The delicate flicks, disguised passes, and calculated bursts into space reminded everyone why Liverpool pushed so hard to sign him. When he left the pitch, the German crowd rose — a nod of respect to a player who once illuminated their league and now threatens to define European nights elsewhere.

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For Liverpool, the result ends a miserable four-game losing streak and reignites belief in a project that had begun to wobble. For Wirtz, it may just be the moment his Anfield chapter truly begins.

Steven Smith’s Pre-match Prediction:

Eintracht Frankfurt 2 – 2 Liverpool