FLORIAN Wirtz’s first goal for Liverpool helped sink sorry Wolves.
Yes, you read that correctly.
The £116m man finally found the net as the Reds extended their run to seven games without defeat.
Wirtz controlled and toe-poked the ball past Jose Sa three minutes before the break as two goals in 90 seconds built a foundation for the hosts’ success at Anfield.
The playmaker, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer, has made 22 appearances without breaking his duck.
But he did so in classy fashion as Arne Slot’s side maintained their upwards momentum.
Wirtz’s struck shortly after Ryan Gravenberch had made the breakthrough.
The midfield anchor had passed the ball inside Sa’s left-hand post following good work by Jeremie Frimpong.
The Dutch defender sped past two defenders before pulling the ball back for his compatriot to drill home a measured finish.
While Rob Edwards’s side were still composing themselves, Liverpool struck again.
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And this was Wirtz’s moment.
Milos Kerkez broke up play as Wolves sought a quick route back into the game.
He fed Hugo Ekitike who showed a clean pair of heels on the left, speeding into the dangerzone.
The striker glanced upwards and saw Wirtz making tracks through the heart of the visitors’ defence.
His run created the angle for the pass and Ekitike delivered.
The German controlled with his right foot and then toe-poked his effort into the net.
His celebration reflected the outpouring of emotion at breaking his duck in a red shirt.
He first tapped the famous Liver bird on the club’s crest as he turned to welcome the congratulations from his team-mates.
And then he ran a further ten yards down the goalline before jumping a couple of feet in the air and letting out a massive roar of jubilation.
Everyone of a red persuasion inside Anfield would have shared in his moment and sympathised with the very public show.
It has already been a road with ups and downs.
And no little patience has had to be shown by both supporters and management as the playmaker found his feet in English football.
But this was a snapshot of what might be as he flitted here and there.
He moved into dangerous areas at will and, particularly during the opening 45 minutes, was the outstanding player on show.
Wirtz’s effort, coming as it did on the back of Gravenberch’s first, should have given the Reds a platform to kick on against a team that is without a victory in the Premier League since April.
Wolves have just two points to their name but Edwards’s side, perhaps with the words of veteran defender Matt Doherty ringing in their ears, mounted a fightback.
After last week’s defeat to Brentford, the former Ireland international asked his colleagues whether they wanted to be remembered as ‘cowards’ for lying down without a fight.
They certainly showed spirit after the interval and took just six minutes to reduce the arrears.
Andre’s corner from the left waste by Tolu Arokodare and Alisson made a decent stop to keep out the header from the big Nigeria international.
However, the ball fell into the dangerzone and defender Santiago Bueno reacted first, firing into the roof of the net.
Wirtz could have had a second.
His snapshot from the edge of the area following an Alexis MacAllister corner went just the wrong side of the post after an hour.
After that, Liverpool were strangely subdued and it took a brilliant Conor Bradley challenge three minutes from time to prevent Wolves’ sub Jhon Arias from converting from Jorgen Strand Larsen’s low cross.
