The German midfielder helped Liverpool take the lead in the 17th minute, although his effort was ultimately recorded as a Pascal Gross own goal after the shot deflected off the Brighton defender. Alexander Isak doubled the advantage four minutes later, finishing after Bradley Barcola won possession and created the opportunity.
Wirtz’s display came amid continued scrutiny, including criticism from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. The 23-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in 2025 for a substantial fee, said he was concentrating on his football rather than outside opinions.
“Maybe I'm just an interesting guy, you know?” Wirtz told BBC Sport.
“No, I just play my football. If people want to talk about me or judge me, that's their job. I am not focusing on that. I just want to play football, and more, I cannot do.”
The performance offered encouragement for Liverpool after a challenging period, with Wirtz increasingly influential in attack. His contribution to the opening goal was followed by a spell of pressure from Brighton, but Liverpool maintained their advantage and secured another victory under head coach Andoni Iraola.
There was, however, a concern when Wirtz was substituted in the 65th minute after appearing to twist his ankle during a challenge. The midfielder had received treatment before leaving the field, prompting questions about his availability for Liverpool’s next fixtures.
Iraola played down the severity of the problem but said the club would need to assess the injury given the demands of the schedule.
“Unfortunately he had to leave the pitch with a small twist of the ankle,” Iraola said. “It doesn't look very big but we are playing every three days so we need to see where he is.”
Liverpool will monitor Wirtz’s condition before making a decision on his next involvement. His own initial assessment was encouraging, but the medical team will determine whether the ankle issue requires further recovery time.
The win moved Liverpool into fourth place in the Premier League after eight matches. Wirtz’s goal involvement and overall performance provided a timely response to his critics, even as the injury introduced an unwelcome question ahead of a busy run of games.
For the midfielder, the message remains straightforward: focus on the football and let performances answer the criticism.