Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz both came in for praise from the watching media after a Liverpool side with five changes from the weekend thrashed Frankfurt 5-1.
The Reds cruised to victory in Germany on Wednesday evening, despite going behind, ending a dire run of four defeats in a row.
Here’s how the media assessed Liverpool’s much-needed and emphatic win.
This was much more like it!
On X, David Lynch described it as the perfect response to a worrying run of form:
“Arne Slot couldn’t have hoped for more from tonight after that torrid recent run.
“A great response to conceding early, an otherwise dominant performance, and goals, assists and much-needed confidence for everyone involved.”
Gary Rose of BBC Sport said Arne Slot‘s changes were a success:
“This was a much-needed win for Liverpool, with the pressure having ramped up on them following Sunday’s loss to one of their biggest rivals at Anfield.
[…]
“Slot took a risk by not starting Mohamed Salah – who has scored 52 goals in the Champions League – but it was a risk that paid off with this emphatic victory that Liverpool fans will hope inspire their side to return to their best.”
Andy Jones of The Athletic thought Slot’s tweak in system paid off handsomely:
“The problems have been mounting for Slot and in his search for answers, he opted to change shape from his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation.
“It could not have gone much better.
[…]
“It was a fluid system, with Isak and Ekitike swapping sides frequently and Wirtz given the licence to roam from the right when Liverpool were in possession, allowing him to be a lot more involved.”
It felt like a big night for some new signings…
Sam Wallace of the Telegraph admired Florian Wirtz‘s eye-catching performance back in his homeland:
“Perhaps the rhythms of German football reawakened his confidence.
“It certainly helped that he was not subject to the kind of hectic pressure that is common in the Premier League as he laid on goals for Cody Gakpo and then Dominik Szoboszlai.”
Writing on X, Henry Winter was another who enjoyed what he saw from Wirtz, both in and out of possession:
“Two assists for Florian Wirtz, and he deserves them.
“Work ethic and intelligent movement always features of his game, now with added end product.”
The Mail‘s Lewis Steele feels Ekitike has to keep his place in the team:
“Why on earth was Ekitike sitting on the bench for the losses to Chelsea and Manchester United?
“He has been the best of Liverpool’s new recruits by some distance and is far outperforming the more documented arrival of Isak so far.
“He simply must be in the XI going forward whether that is with or without his mate Isak, who went off at half-time here.”
Scott Trotter of the Mirror also had big praise for Ekitike:
“Hugo Ekitike‘s effort against Frankfurt made a mockery of the decision to place him among the substitutes in Liverpool’s previous two matches against Manchester United and Chelsea.
“While many of his team-mates are struggling to find their way this season, the Frenchman has settled with ease.
“There were few opportunities before the 23-year-old scored his goal and proved his clinical value once again.”
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