Join AI Pro

Liverpool Star Praised for Performance vs Brighton

Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton on Saturday was efficient rather than spectacular, yet it still provided a useful snapshot of where Arne Slot’s side are heading. The Premier League champions controlled the game, limited Brighton’s threat and showed again that they are comfortable winning without needing everything to click at once. Within that framework, one individual performance stood out, not because of goals or assists, but because of influence, intelligence and physical growth.

Twenty one games into his Liverpool career, Florian Wirtz is still waiting for his first goal in red. That simple statistic continues to dominate lazy conversations online, yet it completely misses the point. Watch Liverpool closely and the German’s value is obvious. He finds pockets of space, links phases of play and increasingly looks willing to embrace the physical demands of English football.

Neil Mellor highlights Wirtz impact

Former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor was quick to pick up on that theme when reflecting on the win over Brighton. Taking to X on Monday evening, he focused on a moment that summed up Wirtz’s growing authority. Mellor posted: ‘Florian Wirtz was very impressive against Brighton. A joy to watch! Loved to see him win the ball back by being too strong for the Brighton centre-back, which led to the corner Liverpool scored 2nd from.’

That corner proved decisive, with Hugo Ekitike doubling Liverpool’s lead on the hour mark. It was not a glamorous contribution, but it was a telling one. Wirtz imposed himself physically, recovered possession and triggered a key attacking sequence. These are the details that rarely make highlight reels but often decide matches at the top level.

Brighton challenge and key moments

The afternoon was not without controversy. Just before half time, Wirtz was booted in the chest by Diego Gomez, a challenge that raised eyebrows inside Anfield and beyond. Former top flight referee Dermot Gallagher later suggested Brighton’s midfielder was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card. It was another reminder that opponents increasingly see disrupting Wirtz as a priority, even if it means stepping over the line.

Despite that attention, Wirtz kept playing with clarity and confidence. He drifted between Brighton’s midfield and defence, created overloads and helped Liverpool sustain pressure. 

Physical growth shaping Liverpool future

The data backs up the eye test. According to Sofascore, Wirtz won four tackles, completed 86 percent of his passes, succeeded with two of his three dribbles, made three key passes and drew two fouls. Most striking of all, he won nine of his 12 duels. That statistic matters, because physical robustness has been the one recurring question around his adaptation to the Premier League.

Join AI Pro