Stand: November 5th, 2024, 7:25 p.m
Von: Florian Bajus
PressSplit
Bayer Leverkusen hopes to get something worthwhile in the Champions League duel against Liverpool FC. Will Florian Wirtz be the trump card for the Werkself?
Leverkusen – After the goalless draw against VfB Stuttgart, the next tricky task awaits Bayer Leverkusen. The Werkself will face Liverpool FC in the Champions League.
Leverkusen looking forward to Liverpool
On Tuesday evening (9 p.m.) the Leverkusen team will be at Anfield Road. Head coach Xabi Alonso is celebrating his return to his old place of work; the former midfielder wore the Reds jersey between 2004 and 2009 and celebrated the Champions League victory in the final against AC Milan in 2005.
In the summer, Jürgen Klopp resigned from the position of head coach at Mersey, and his successor Arne Slot celebrated an almost perfect start. The Dutchman has won 13 of 15 competitive games to date, suffered his only defeat against Nottingham Forest on September 14th and recorded his only draw against Arsenal on October 27th.
With 25 points, Liverpool are at the top of the Premier League table and are second behind Aston Villa in the Champions League with 9 points. “This is what we want, what we worked for last year and are working for this year too,” said Bayer sports director Simon Rolfes kicker with a view to the upcoming game and emphasized: “It will definitely be an intense game. They rightly have nine points and are also doing quite well in the Premier League.”
Will Wirtz be a key player against the Reds?
However, the reigning double winner has gained enough self-confidence to challenge even the in-form Reds. After all, more points would be a big step towards the Champions League round of 16 and a confirmation of the development under Alonso.
Florian Wirtz will once again play a key role on the way to at least one point. The 21-year-old, who is regularly linked with a move to FC Bayern, has been waiting for a goal in the Bundesliga since September 22nd, but was successful three times in the Champions League and scored in the 1-1 draw against Stade Brest scored its seventh goal of the season on October 23rd.
Rolfes highlights Wirtz's inconspicuous quality
“His technique and his dribbling are often highlighted,” Rolfes said of Wirtz. However, the noble technician has another quality that can be crucial against the intense Premier League football. “He has a very intense style of play, always runs a lot, has a lot of runs with which he opens up space for teammates.”
Ahead of his 168th competitive game for Leverkusen, Wirtz is not only in top form in terms of football, but also physically. “He has continued to improve his physical robustness. I saw a photo recently when we signed his first contract. “It’s a different body that’s under the jersey now,” said Rolfes. It is “part of his game and his quality that he is able to physically exert this intensity and not shy away from any duel.”
This quality will be important in order to withstand duels with Alexis Mac Allister, Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konaté. How many points Leverkusen will get doesn't just depend on Wirtz – because, as on the way to the double, team unity is the key this season too.
