A minute’s applause at Anfield on Sunday honored Kevin Keegan, one of Liverpool’s legendary No 7s, while Florian Wirtz was busy making headlines with a goal in a 3-2 friendly defeat against Monaco. Wirtz’s recent £100m transfer from Bayer Leverkusen marked him as the most expensive player in Liverpool's history, though he now faces the pressure of living up to that legacy.

In his debut season, Wirtz experienced mixed results, describing it as a challenging year for both himself and the team. He stated, “Difficult question but of course there were some games when I wasn't happy with myself, but also a lot of games when I felt good on the pitch.” Despite appearing in 49 matches and contributing seven goals and eight assists, he struggled to find consistency, ending the season with fewer goals than even Virgil van Dijk.

Wirtz’s first taste of Premier League football under Andoni Iraola was a shock, but now he looks forward to working with his new manager, who aims to utilize him in a central role. Wirtz acknowledged, “I think it is important to know which position you are going to play... No 10 is my favourite and my best position.”

The pairing of Wirtz with fellow £100m signing Alexander Isak is anticipated to be a key focus this season. Wirtz expressed optimism, noting their positive combinations in recent games. With a new season underway, he hopes to bring intensity and control to Liverpool's play, while also striving to be the best version of himself.

As Wirtz embarks on this new chapter, Liverpool fans remain hopeful that he can rise to the occasion and contribute to the club’s storied legacy.