The 22-year-old Germany international wasn’t on the scoresheet at the Stadium of Light, but he was at the heart of all the good we produced as we became the first side to beat Sunderland at home in the Premier League this season.
Speaking TNT SportsGerrard did not hold back: “In terms of the technical level of this kid it is world class. He has the world at his feet, he is so exciting to watch in tight little spaces.”
“His first touch is flawless, his awareness of what is going on around him is fantastic, he is always looking for goals and always trying to get on the scoresheet.
“For me, I always look at players and think to myself, ‘would I want to play with him as a player?’ I would have loved to play with this child.
“He’s always in space, he’s so smart when it comes to the areas where he needs to receive the ball. I just think he’s so exciting for the Premier League and I’m obviously happy he’s a Liverpool player.”
That’s high praise from a former Liverpool captain who knows what the elite looks like.
Wirtz Sunderland performance backed by the numbers
While Virgil van Dijk grabbed the headlines with the winning goal, Wirtz’s influence was evident both visually and in the data.
According to Bank scoreWirtz recorded a 6.7 rating over 90 minutes, registered five shots, an expected goals rating of 0.62 and hit the woodwork once.
He also completed 54 of 61 passes (89%), including 42 accurate passes into Sunderland’s half, and completed two successful dribbles.
Florian Wirtz vs Sunderland
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Minutes | 90 |
| Shots | 5 |
| xG | 0.62 |
| Shots on target | 2 |
| Hitting woodwork | 1 |
| Precise passes | 54/61 (89%) |
| Key cards | 2 |
| Touches | 81 |
| Successful dribbles | 2/2 |
He carried the ball 15 times for more than 112 yards and was repeatedly the player to make something happen when Sunderland were deep.
Joe Cole praised the 22-year-old for one earlier in the match “beautiful gesture”and this performance only reinforced the feeling that Wirtz is increasingly dictating our attacking rhythm.
Gerrard’s praise links to Wirtz’s physical Premier League adjustment
What stood out on Wearside was not just Wirtz’s imagination, but also his willingness to compete physically.
Before facing Sunderland, Wirtz had spoken about adapting to the intensity of English football, explaining that he had “spent a lot of time in the gym” and that the duels helped him grow.
Against the Regis Le Bris side, that progress was clear.
Wirtz played eleven ground duels, regained possession six times and continued to claim the ball in tight spaces despite tough challenges.
That mix of technical sharpness and increasing robustness is exactly why Gerrard’s assessment carries weight.
With Liverpool on 42 points and two points clear of Chelsea in fifth place, performances like this are just as important as the results.
Wirtz didn’t score against Sunderland, but he was a constant threat, a creative focal point and the driving force behind our dominance.
And if a former captain says he would have “I loved playing with this child”that tells you everything about the level that Wirtz is starting to reach.
You can watch Slot’s post-Sunderland press conference via Kingdom of the Head on YouTube:
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