Arne Slot has challenged Florian Wirtz to build on his "special" performance after the German playmaker scored his first goal for Liverpool in their recent 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton. The long-awaited goal, which came in Wirtz's 23rd appearance for the club, brought visible relief to both the player and his manager.

Wirtz, a summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116 million deal, has faced scrutiny since his arrival at Anfield. Slot acknowledged the pressure on the 22-year-old, stating that players are often judged on goals and assists, sometimes overshadowing other contributions. However, he also expressed satisfaction with Wirtz's overall progress.

"I think I am quite sure it was a relief for him," Slot said of Wirtz's goal. "I could see with his reaction when he scored the goal and it was the same with his team-mates, they were really happy for him".

Despite the joy surrounding the goal, Slot emphasized the need for Wirtz to continue improving. "He will be the first to understand that one goal is not enough so hopefully he will score many more goals for us than just this one," Slot stated. He further added, "But I also liked his performance during large parts of the game today, I think he was special in a lot of moments".

Slot highlighted Wirtz's growing fitness and adaptation to the Premier League's physical demands as key factors in his recent improvement. He noted that Wirtz has been working on a weight-gain program to better cope with the league's intensity. Slot also praised Wirtz's increasing confidence in physical duels, citing a specific moment against Brighton where he shielded the ball and created a scoring opportunity.

Wirtz's goal against Wolves was a composed finish, threading the ball past the goalkeeper after a well-timed run and pass from Hugo Ekitike. The goal, coming shortly after Ryan Gravenberch's opener, helped Liverpool secure a 2-1 victory, though they had to withstand a nervy second half after Wolves pulled a goal back.

The game was also an emotional occasion as Liverpool and Wolves paid tribute to Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away in July. Jota's sons and other family members participated in the pre-match presentation.

Looking ahead, Slot expects Wirtz to build on this breakthrough and become an integral part of the Liverpool team. While acknowledging the need for improvement in set-piece defending, there is a growing sense that Wirtz's presence can elevate Liverpool's chances in the Premier League.