Gerrard sums up the Wirtz hype in one sentence after Sunderland win
Liverpool did not need poetry on Wednesday night. They needed points, composure, and a way through a Sunderland side that has made the Stadium of Light feel like a trap for most visitors this season. They got all three, even if the scoreline suggested a narrow escape rather than a statement.
Virgil van Dijk’s second-half header settled it, a 1–0 win that mattered far more than it glittered. But once the noise died down and the replay loops slowed, the conversation drifted back to the same player again. Florian Wirtz did not get a goal or an assist, yet he still looked like the match’s main event.
And then Steven Gerrard put a bow on it.
Sitting in the TNT Sports studio after the final whistle, the former Liverpool captain delivered the sort of compliment that cuts through the usual post-match fog. He called Wirtz “world class” and admitted, with a grin you could practically hear, “I would have loved to play with this kid.”
Liverpool win, but it was Wirtz who made it feel controlled
The headline says Van Dijk. It should. His header, arriving in the 61st minute, was decisive and symbolic. Liverpool had been the better side, had stacked up corners, had probed and pushed, yet still risked letting the night turn into one of those frustrating away trips where dominance becomes regret.
Then the captain rose. Mohamed Salah’s delivery caused chaos, and Van Dijk did what leaders do, forcing the moment over the line. Depending on the angle you watched, it looked like it took a flick on its way in, but the point is Liverpool finally had what they came for: a lead they could defend with authority.
What made the performance more interesting was the shape of it. This did not look like the Liverpool side that had been criticised for being too passive against Manchester City. This time they played on the front foot, and they played with a clear plan: move the ball quickly into Wirtz, let him turn, and let the rest of the attack feed off his timing.
The numbers told the story of his influence
Wirtz finished as Man of the Match, and it was hard to argue. He had more touches than anyone on the pitch, and he led the match for shots as well. That combination matters, because it shows he was not just “neat” or “busy.” He was Liverpool’s main outlet and their main threat.
There is a specific type of player who can dominate a game without a final statistic. Wirtz is starting to look like that kind of footballer in a Liverpool shirt.
He kept appearing in pockets that should not exist. He received in tight spaces where defenders usually win by default. He carried the ball just far enough to tilt Sunderland’s shape, then released it early enough to keep Liverpool moving forward. You could see why the move was always going to be a long-term bet rather than an instant win, because this is not a “highlight only” player. He’s a rhythm player. When he’s on it, he changes the temperature of the match.
Gerrard’s praise was not just about flair
Gerrard’s breakdown was sharp because it focused on details, not hype. He talked about Wirtz’s first touch, his awareness, and how quickly he sees the next action in crowded areas. That is the part fans notice.
But the more important part was what he said about Wirtz without the ball.
Gerrard pointed out that Wirtz reacts quickly when possession is lost, and that he actually does the ugly work that many No.10 profiles try to avoid. That matters in away games like this, because Sunderland’s whole route back into the match is based on transitions, second balls, and chaos. When your creative player helps you win the ball back fast, you stop the storm before it starts.
That is also why Wirtz felt so central even without a “number.” Liverpool did not only attack through him. They defended around him too.
A win that keeps Liverpool alive
Liverpool will not pretend this was perfect. The finishing could have been cleaner, and the lead could have been bigger given the volume of pressure they built. But this was a controlled away win in a stadium where few have felt comfortable, and at this stage of the season, that is the currency that matters.
It also came at a useful moment in the table. Liverpool are still chasing their targets, and the margin for error is shrinking. The point is not to look brilliant every week. The point is to keep collecting results while the squad absorbs injuries and the schedule squeezes.
There was also a small cloud on an otherwise positive night, with reports noting another potential knock for Liverpool to manage. That is becoming a theme, and it is one reason why Slot will take a one-goal away win with zero shame.
What it means for Wirtz and what comes next
This match will not be remembered as a classic. It will be remembered as another step in Wirtz becoming “Liverpool’s player” rather than “Liverpool’s expensive signing.”
Gerrard’s line landed because it felt honest. It did not sound like a courtesy compliment. It sounded like a former elite midfielder recognising a football brain that sees the game a second earlier than most people.
Liverpool paid big money because they believed they were buying a player who would decide big games. On Wednesday, he did not decide it with a goal. He decided it by dragging the match into the kind of tempo Liverpool like, over and over again, until Sunderland finally cracked.
Van Dijk got the winner. Wirtz got the spotlight. Liverpool got the points. And Gerrard’s verdict will follow the German for a while.
