STATS MORE LIKE IT

Wirtz's wait to get off the mark goes on but mood music better

- BY IAN DOYLE

IT was testament to Florian Wirtz's early months at Liverpool that even his great moment of liftoff came with caveats.

The slaloming run that ended with an equaliser when the Reds most needed it against Sunderland on Wednesday came with an asterisk that marked it down, officially, as an own goal via Nordi Mukiele.

That's sort of how it's been for Wirtz so far during his fledgling career with the Premier League champions; even when he is bold and decisive, it is not reflected in the bricks and mortar of football metrics.

The official statistics, then, will tell us that the German has yet to open his account for Liverpool following his €132m move from Bayer Leverkusen in June.

But his intervention at the Kop end was a timely one for Arne Slot and further evidence - regardless of what the numbers say - of a player continuing to find his feet after an encouraging few days.

Virgil van Dijk suggested on Sunday that Wirtz's performance at Eintracht Frankfurt, when the Reds won 5-1, was possibly his best for the club, but there was little pushback on the claim that the Germany international turned in his finest league display in the 2-0 victory over West Ham.

Wirtz was bright and inventive and always carried a threat with his elegant style and intelligent passing.

It was his threaded pass to Cody Gakpo that allowed the cutback to be converted by Alexander Isak for the opener.

A 'pre-assist', if you prefer your analytics with a bit more of a modern twist.