Wirtz plays down ankle scare as Liverpool climb to fourth with Brighton rout

Florian Wirtz has insisted his ankle injury from Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brighton on Sunday is “not too bad”, offering relief to supporters after the £116 million midfielder was forced off in the 65th minute following a challenge at Anfield.

The German was substituted after appearing to jar his ankle, prompting immediate concern given the form he had shown before leaving the pitch. But Wirtz was measured in his assessment post-match. “I think it should be alright,” he said. “It’s not too bad. I don’t know much yet, we have to check it, but it won’t be long.”

The result itself was Liverpool’s most convincing of the season under Andoni Iraola. A Pascal Gross own goal and an Alexander Isak strike sealed the points and ended Brighton’s run of four consecutive wins, while also snapping their five-match clean-sheet streak. Liverpool became the first Premier League side this season to stop Brighton from scoring.

It was the fourth win in a row for Liverpool, who had lost 3-0 to Manchester City earlier this month. Iraola’s side have since found a sharper rhythm, with Wirtz, Isak and Bradley Barcola all contributing to a more dynamic attacking unit.

Match of the Day pundit Ashley Williams offered a blunt verdict on where Liverpool now stand. “If they are all fit and they are on the pitch, he is not going to waste any time,” Williams said of Iraola’s approach. “They get the ball forward, they are dynamic — now he has got those players like Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. They look scary right now.”

Williams added that Iraola’s willingness to play at pace suits the personnel at his disposal. “He doesn’t waste time and try to build up too slowly. If he can go fast, with the pace that he has at the top of the pitch, then he does it.”

Liverpool’s next test comes on Wednesday in the Carabao Cup against Chelsea, managed by former Anfield favourite Xabi Alonso — who also worked with Wirtz during his time at Bayer Leverkusen. Whether the midfielder is fit to face his former coach will be one of the key storylines heading into midweek.