Liverpool full-back Conor Bradley says the club are fortunate to have Florian Wirtz, after the playmaker ended a long scoring wait in the 2-1 win over Wolves. Wirtz struck Liverpool’s second goal at Anfield,
turning in a pass from Hugo Ekitike, and Bradley believes the display underlined Wirtz’s enduring quality.
Bradley stressed that nobody inside the Liverpool camp doubted Wirtz, even when early numbers looked poor. The midfielder had gone 15 Premier League games without a goal or assist before this recent surge, yet Bradley insists confidence never dropped, as training sessions showed Wirtz’s technical level and intelligence every day.
Wirtz has now produced two goal contributions across consecutive league matches. The first was an assist for Alexander Isak against Tottenham. The second came with that composed finish versus bottom side Wolves. Liverpool hope this marks the start of a consistent streak, as Wirtz grows more comfortable in Jürgen Klopp’s system.
The Wolves match also highlighted the scope of Wirtz’s influence beyond the scoresheet. Wirtz completed seven of nine attempted dribbles, the most by any Liverpool player in a Premier League fixture since April 2024, when Ryan Gravenberch also managed seven against West Ham, underlining how often Wirtz committed defenders.
Across the league season, only two players have bettered Wirtz’s dribble total in a single game. Iliman Ndiaye completed nine against Liverpool in September, while Jeremy Doku registered eight against Burnley. Wirtz also topped the Wolves contest for chances created, with three, and for final-third passes, recording 54 in a busy midfield role.
Duels were another key measure of Wirtz’s impact. The former Bayer Leverkusen midfielder contested 15 and won 11, helping Liverpool maintain pressure high up the pitch. Those numbers support the coaching staff’s belief that Wirtz offers work rate as well as creativity, an important blend in Liverpool’s current attacking structure.
| Florian Wirtz vs Wolves | Statistic | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Attacking | Goals | 1 |
| Creativity | Chances created | 3 |
| Possession | Final-third passes | 54 |
| Dribbling | Dribbles completed | 7 of 9 |
| Physical | Duels won | 11 of 15 |
Bradley, who often links with Wirtz on Liverpool’s right side, described the goal as a shared moment of satisfaction. "I was buzzing for him," Bradley said of Wirtz's first goal. Obviously, he's had to wait a little bit of time for it, but I was so happy for him.
Bradley then set out why Wirtz commands such respect inside the squad. "He's such a terrific player. We see it in training every day, how good he is with the ball. You'd rather have him on your team than not on your team, put it that way. He's terrific to have. "
Bradley also highlighted Wirtz’s reliability in possession and ability to create under pressure. "You can sort of just give him the ball in any area of the pitch, and he's able to do something with it and keep the ball for us. He's so important to have,and we're lucky to have him. "
Wirtz joined Liverpool for 132m (116), and the adaptation period to the Premier League demanded patience. The early run of 15 league outings without a direct contribution drew external scrutiny, yet staff and players felt the underlying performances were strong, and recent numbers are beginning to reflect that growing influence.
The attacking midfielder aims to extend this upturn when Liverpool face Leeds United on New Year’s Day. Wirtz can record a goal or assist in three straight league fixtures for the first time since a sequence of six for Leverkusen in November and December 2024, suggesting Liverpool may now see peak form.
