Arne Slot’s Liverpool Reign Begins with Promising Signs as Florian Wirtz Impresses in Debut
After comfortably clinching the Premier League title in his debut season, Arne Slot wasted no time strengthening his squad. His ambition was made clear with Liverpool’s high-profile signing of Florian Wirtz — and fans have already begun reacting to his unofficial debut.
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Wirtz featured for the first time in a Liverpool shirt during a dominant 5-0 victory over Stoke City in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby on Saturday. While Darwin Nunez stole headlines with a hat-trick, much of the focus remained on the newly signed German midfielder.
Both Rio Ngumoha and a somewhat off-form Federico Chiesa also found the net, but it was Wirtz who captured the most attention ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming pre-season tour in Asia. There, they’ll take on AC Milan in Hong Kong before heading to Japan to face Yokohama F. Marinos.
Fans Buzzing After Wirtz Shines in Training Ground Friendly
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Although the match was played in private, Liverpool released video highlights showcasing the team’s attacking fluidity and all five goals.
Wirtz, known for his exceptional stint at Bayer Leverkusen, orchestrated much of the play. Lining up behind Nunez and flanked by Mohamed Salah and Ngumoha, the 22-year-old glided past defenders with ease.
For Liverpool’s opening goal, Wirtz picked up the ball between the lines, tussled with Stoke’s midfield, and tried to pick out a teammate — frequently drifting to the left side, offering insight into his movement and spatial awareness.
His influence was especially notable in the build-up to the fourth goal, linking play effortlessly with Curtis Jones and Ngumoha near the box.
Fans were quick to heap praise on the German. One supporter expressed sympathy for Dominik Szoboszlai, who was reportedly shifted to right-back to accommodate Wirtz, commenting: “I’m so sorry for Szoboszlai. He’s going to feel the heat of the Wirtz show.”
Another fan lauded Liverpool’s recruitment, writing: “We hardly ever get it wrong with Michael Edwards. Wirtz fits right in.” A third emphasized the creative midfielder’s technical skill, adding: “The technical quality in this team has reached another level.”
As the 2025/26 Premier League season approaches — with Liverpool set to host Bournemouth on opening day — excitement continues to build around Wirtz’s arrival. After his smooth first outing, many fans are eager for the season to begin, with one summing up the mood: “Wirtz is a baller! Season should start ASAP.”
