Florian Wirtz has grown into the Liverpool No. 7 shirt in recent months, regularly standing out as the Reds’ best player.
After a slow beginning to his career at Anfield, the German has been showing why Liverpool spent so heavily to bring him from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
With his team in another tough run of form heading into Wednesday’s match against Sunderland, Arne Slot would have been hanging his hat on another big performance from Wirtz.
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What a win!
Sunderland v Liverpool - Premier League
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Almost immediately, the 22-year-old looked in the mood, slaloming through the Black Cats’ defence and creating openings where his teammates could not.
An early striking of the post was complemented with some really good defensive work as he belied complaints of a lack of physicality. Following a promising first-half, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard picked Wirtz out for praise.
Steven Gerrard amazed by Florian Wirtz display
In a really miserable season, Wirtz has become the player Liverpool supporters feel can really dig them out of the mire.
He did that in a big way on Wednesday, getting the Reds on the front foot and providing a spark that few of his teammates initially matched.
Florian Wirtz during Sunderland v Liverpool - Premier League
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Great players recognise themselves in others, though, and speaking to TNT Sports at half-time, Gerrard hailed the performance of Wirtz.
“He’s been Liverpool’s best player,” raved the legendary Scouser. “He looks like he’ll be the one to open the door. He’s very effective when he stays the other side of the midfield, he doesn’t need to come deep, leave that to Gravenberch and Mac Allister. He allows them to penetrate centrally.
“This is where he’s brilliant, earlier pass from Gakpo and it’s a fantastic touch, takes it back away from the defender and he’s really unlucky [hitting the post]. He’s looked the likely one.”
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Liverpool score against Sunderland
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“If you’re the manager in there you say change the speed with the wingers, but feed Wirtz, keep feeding him and he’ll find the areas.”
Wirtz finally looks like Liverpool’s gamechanger
When he’s in this kind of mood, Wirtz is verging on unplayable. He just needs to add that final part to his game where he is more regularly on the scoresheet, or providing assists.
In reality, when his teammates can get their confidence back that will likely come. At times he looks to be a victim of being a step or two ahead of the other Liverpool players.
In the meantime, Wirtz can work on becoming the absolute gamechanger that the Reds really need him to be. If his teammates are on it or not, the Germany international has to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and drive Liverpool forward.
He did that well enough at the Stadium of Light, and having been a player used to those kinds of heroics during his many years with the Reds, Gerrard was impressed.
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