Wirtz Rises, Gomez Stable, and New Signals from the Slot for the Liverpool Squad

Gilabola.com – Liverpool achieved an important victory at West Ham and the match set the stage for three main issues: Florian Wirtz’s response to criticism, the certainty of Joe Gomez’s fitness and form, and Arne Slot’s decision to bench Mohamed Salah.

This match brought together many dynamics, starting from the pressure on Wirtz, the need to rotate the squad, to the tactical moves that ultimately resulted in a 2-0 win.

Florian Wirtz comes into this match against the backdrop of criticism arising from Dietmar Hamann who thinks he has to prove himself before Christmas. The majority of Liverpool fans reject that view, and his performance at the London Stadium showed why they hold different beliefs.

Arne Slot himself is said to be not interested in rushing to assess Wirtz, because he feels the quality of the attacking midfielder will be central to the team’s long-term plans. This confidence can be seen from the decision to return Wirtz to the number 10 position after missing two matches.

During the first half, Wirtz was repeatedly a source of creativity. Several opportunities did not result in goals, including a shot that was blocked by Alphonse Areola, but the rhythm of Liverpool’s attacks came from that.

His persistence paid off when he sent in a clever breakthrough that created space for Cody Gakpo to start Alexander Isak’s scoring process. This role emphasizes that his contribution is not limited to the individual, but is directly related to the flow of the team’s game.

When he was taken off 15 minutes before the end of the match, he was already one of the best players on the field. Slot seems to want to ensure that his physical condition is maintained amidst his busy schedule.

This performance makes Wirtz again considered worthy of being a main part of the Slot starter list in the future. Consistency is the next challenge, but important strides have been made.

Joe Gomez’s Stable Performance

On the other hand, Joe Gomez had an emotional day considering that last season’s hamstring injury occurred at this stadium. After 11 months full of fitness problems, he finally returned to starting in the Premier League.

The previous slot explained that Gomez had received an injection in his knee, which disrupted the continuity of his playing minutes. But the performance in this match shows that the defender still has great value in the new system.

Gomez appeared solid in defense and actively helped attack. His long throws are again an additional weapon that other players in the current Liverpool squad rarely have.

It was from his long throw scheme that Liverpool’s opening goal started. After his first throw was cleared, Gomez remained in the area to restart the pressure until an opportunity was created which was then converted into a goal.

Not only that, he also recorded a direct assist when his cross was completed by Gakpo for the second goal. This match is a signal that Gomez is ready to fight for the main position if his physical condition is stable.

Strong signal about Mohamed Salah

Slot’s decision to bench Mohamed Salah again raises big question marks. The last time this happened in the Premier League, Salah gave a stern warning that there would be ‘fire’ if he said anything.

This time there were no such comments. In fact, he wasn’t played at all even though he had time to warm up. Slot chose to change the composition of the front line after poor performance in recent weeks.

Although Salah is not the only player whose performance has declined, his absence is certainly the strongest highlight. However, this decision also gives Liverpool the opportunity to reorganize their attack without relying on him, especially before he leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Slot seems to want to encourage Salah to appear more powerful in the last two weeks before the tournament. This situation can be a whiplash that benefits both parties.

Before the match, there was also an emotional tribute to West Ham legend Billy Bonds, who has died aged 79. This moment gave a different atmosphere before kick-off took place.

Our opinion

Slot’s decision in this match felt like a small turning point. Wirtz was given great confidence and responded, Gomez showed quality that had been in doubt due to injury, and the firm move on Salah showed that no player is automatically the first choice.