Liverpool star calls for ‘momentum’ ahead of crucial Brighton clash

Liverpool’s 4-0 dismantling of Galatasaray may have felt like a season-defining statement, but Florian Wirtz insists the job is only half-done. Speaking to liverpoolfc.com after the midweek rout, the German playmaker urged his teammates to bottle the intensity of Anfield’s European night and carry it to the south coast for Saturday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion.

“Yes, it will be very important for us, also for our mind and also for the spirit in the team that we just create momentum and also an energy that we can win all the games now,” Wirtz said, emphasising the psychological lift that a second consecutive victory would provide.

Momentum has become the watchword around Kirkby. Against Galatasaray, Wirtz created eight chances—the most by any Liverpool player in a Champions League fixture since Opta began recording the data—yet the 21-year-old brushed off personal accolades. “These stats are nice, always good to know and to speak about. But, for me, always the most important thing is that the team does good.”

His return from a niggling back complaint has coincided with a noticeable uptick in Liverpool’s attacking fluency under head coach Arne Slot. “It was a bit annoying with my back because it first was away, then came back again. But now I am fine, I feel good and I’m happy that I can keep on going where I stopped before the injury.”

The timing is critical. Liverpool now face a Brighton side renowned for disrupting the division’s heavyweights, and they must do so without the cushion of another European night at Anfield. “It’s always good to have a better feeling and also a better atmosphere in the changing room because when you don’t win the team is not really happy,” Wirtz noted.

Wednesday’s victory, sealed by relentless pressing and rapid ball circulation, sets the benchmark. “I think it was very important to put in intensity like we did on Wednesday. I think that was needed to come through this round and we are very happy that we put so much effort into the game and got a good result in the end.”

Replicating that intensity away from home is the next examination. With an international break looming and a blockbuster Champions League date with Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon, three points at the Amex Stadium would extend Liverpool’s positive trajectory and reinforce the belief that one dominant evening can snowball into a sustained charge on multiple fronts.

For Wirtz and Liverpool, the message is simple: momentum begins again at kick-off on Saturday.