Wirtz Influence Earns Shearer Praise After Inter Milan Victory
Liverpool’s narrow 1-0 win away to Inter Milan in the Champions League brought several talking points, but the impact of Florian Wirtz from the bench drew particular attention. The German midfielder’s introduction helped tilt the momentum at a crucial stage, earning high praise from Premier League great Alan Shearer for the intelligence and incision he added late on.
Wirtz was introduced with just over twenty minutes to play, and his movement between Inter’s compact defensive lines opened up spaces that had previously been difficult to access. As Liverpool pushed for a decisive moment, his involvement eventually led to the VAR-reviewed penalty that sealed the result.
Shearer, speaking on Amazon Prime coverage, highlighted the significance of Wirtz’s cameo.
“He has definitely made a difference, Wirtz, since coming on,” said Shearer. “He has been finding those little bits of space in front of that back five.”
Match-Winning Moment Sparks Debate
Dominik Szoboszlai converted the penalty in the 88th minute, but the incident itself generated considerable debate. Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was adjudged to have pulled Wirtz’s shirt inside the area, and although the contact seemed minimal in real time, replays showed enough of a clear tug for VAR to recommend an on-field review.
After a short delay, the referee pointed to the spot, allowing Liverpool to secure a vital late advantage. The goal reflected the visitors’ persistence in a match largely defined by tight margins and strong defensive organisation on both sides.
Wirtz’s numbers further underlined his influence: 25 touches, 21 completed passes at an 86 per cent success rate, two recoveries and both ground duels won. While Szoboszlai was lauded for his composure from the spot and Ryan Gravenberch collected the man of the match award, the German youngster’s contribution was seen as a significant turning point.
Tactical Edge Provided by Wirtz
Arne Slot turned to Wirtz for precisely the attributes he delivered—sharp passing, clever positioning and the courage to receive the ball under pressure. Against an Inter side operating with a disciplined back five, Liverpool required someone able to manipulate spaces and shift the rhythm of the contest.
His ability to drift into pockets between the centre-backs and midfield line gave Liverpool a fresh dynamic in the final third. Inter, who had contained most central incursions for the majority of the game, were forced into uncomfortable defensive adjustments once Wirtz appeared.
This tactical layer ultimately paved the way for the decisive incident, even if the outcome of the VAR decision continues to invite differing opinions.
van Dijk Reflects On A Hard-Fought Result
Captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the significance of the win, describing it as a potential platform for greater consistency at a key stage of the season.
“It’s a good feeling of winning. Especially in a period we are in, trying to find consistency and something to build on,” said van Dijk after the final whistle. “Hopefully, tonight is one of those performances. It was always going to be tough. We handled the game well. It could have been a 0-0 game in the end but it ended positively for us in the end.
“It doesn’t change anything. There’s obviously so much noise from the outside world, which is normal when you don’t perform. It’s deserved as well. We want to improve, we want to be consistent and win games. We’re not doing it as much as we like. We have to stick together and be a unit as we have been. That’s what Liverpool stands for.”
Liverpool will hope the resilience shown at the San Siro, combined with the growing influence of talents like Wirtz, can help propel them towards a more stable run of results as the competition intensifies.
