Alan Shearer is full of praise for this Liverpool star after Inter Milan victory | OneFootball

Liverpool Quality Shines in Milan Victory

Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Inter Milan served as a reminder of their resilience, their control in tight Champions League encounters and the growing influence of Florian Wirtz. It was a night shaped by discipline, organisation and a touch of craft, with Alan Shearer singling out Wirtz for the impact he brought from the bench.

Inter Match Context

Arne Slot’s side arrived in Italy under scrutiny after a dip in form and the noise surrounding Mo Salah’s recent outburst. Yet at the San Siro, a venue where Liverpool have now won on five successive visits, they displayed a level of composure that has defined the early stages of Slot’s tenure. Dominik Szoboszlai’s late penalty secured the result, awarded after Alessandro Bastoni pulled the shirt of Florian Wirtz. Andy Robertson and Jamie Carragher later noted that the decision may have been generous, although Carragher felt Bastoni’s error gave the officials a decision to make.

Photo: IMAGO

Wirtz Influence After Introduction

Wirtz emerged midway through the second half and immediately altered the rhythm of Liverpool’s play. His awareness and movement caused persistent problems for Inter’s back five, something Shearer underlined on Amazon Prime Video Sport when he said: “He has definitely made a difference, Wirtz, since coming on. He has been finding those little bits of space in front of that back five.”

That intervention proved decisive. Wirtz’s shift in tempo and positioning helped Liverpool take greater control of attacking zones that previously felt congested. His role in winning the penalty was the headline moment, yet his overall contribution was broader, more cerebral and exactly what Liverpool required at that stage of the match.

Statistical Edge With Wirtz

Before Wirtz replaced Alexander Isak, Liverpool had struggled to break down a stubborn Inter unit. After his introduction, the numbers told their own story. Liverpool produced six shots to Inter’s one, a swing highlighted by data from WhoScored. His technical quality was reflected again in Sofascore’s metrics, which showed that he completed 100 percent of his dribbles, 86 percent of his passes, won two of three duels and delivered one key pass.

Liverpool Echo journalist Ian Doyle added further praise, noting that the midfielder ‘instantly made a difference with his range of passing and intelligence on the ball’, awarding him an 8 out of 10 in his player ratings. For a 22 year old adapting to a new league, the signs continue to suggest a player whose influence will only grow.

What Comes Next For Liverpool’s Number Seven

For all of his poise, creativity and spatial intelligence, Wirtz has faced questions over his goals and assists return since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen. Those concerns are understandable, although he has already demonstrated that he can elevate Liverpool’s attacking patterns in different ways. Once he adds more decisive contributions in the final third, Liverpool will possess a midfielder capable of shaping matches at the highest level.