Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool Player Ratings: Van Dijk Strikes Late Header to Grab Away Win | Premier League

Liverpool picked up a competitive win over Sunderland in a close Premier League match at the Stadium of Light. The EPL game was closely contested, with few clear chances, as both teams showed strong defensive discipline throughout. Let's check out Sunderland vs Liverpool player ratings from the gripping clash.

Liverpool controlled much of the match, especially in the first half, keeping possession and pushing Sunderland deep into their own half. Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s most dangerous player, striking the woodwork and forcing several saves from the Sunderland goalkeeper. Despite the pressure, Sunderland defended bravely and frustrated the visitors for long periods.

The decisive moment came after the break. From a well-delivered corner, captain Virgil van Dijk rose above everyone to head the ball into the net, giving Liverpool the lead. It was a powerful and well-taken goal that finally broke Sunderland’s resistance.

Sunderland tried to respond and showed plenty of effort, but they struggled to create clear chances. Liverpool’s defence remained solid and dealt comfortably with the home side’s attacks.

In the end, it was a professional away performance from Liverpool. While the match lacked moments of excitement, the Reds did enough to earn three important points against a determined Sunderland team.

Key Takeaways

1. Florian Wirtz hit the woodwork in the first half as Liverpool pushed hard for an opening goal.
2. Virgil van Dijk scored the winning goal with a powerful header from a corner in the second half.
3. Sunderland pressed late on for an equaliser, but Liverpool’s defence held firm to secure the win.

Sunderland Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Here are Sunderland player ratings from the EPL game against Liverpool:

Goalkeeper

Robin Roefs - 6.5: We thought he did well overall. He made a couple of important saves to keep his team in it, most notably denying Florian Wirtz in the first half. He was commanding with his punches. However, he couldn't do anything about the powerful header from Van Dijk. His distribution was a bit of a worry, as he lost possession 23 times.

Defenders

Nordi Mukiele - 7.0: A really energetic performance down the right flank. He was a willing outlet, sending in a staggering 11 crosses, though only one found its mark. Defensively he was sound, winning most of his duels and making five clearances. He even had a couple of pops at goal himself. A very busy and impressive afternoon for him.

Dan Ballard - 6.5: A rock at the back for large parts of the game. He made a massive 10 clearances and was strong in his aerial battles. One error did lead to a shot which takes a little shine off his rating. He also missed a decent headed chance late on that could have been a dramatic equalizer. Solid stuff otherwise.

Omar Alderete - 6.0: A battling performance that was unfortunately cut short by injury. He put his body on the line with four clearances and a blocked shot. What was concerning was that he lost all three of his duels. He was clearly struggling before he had to be substituted.

Reinildo Mandava - 7.5: From our perspective, he was Sunderland's best player. He was fantastic defensively, making three crucial blocks and winning 5 of his 7 duels. He was tidy on the ball and even created a chance for Trai Hume. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise outstanding and tenacious display.

Midfielders

Noah Sadiki - 6.5: A very tidy performance in the heart of midfield. His 95% pass accuracy shows how reliable he was in possession. He worked hard off the ball too, making two interceptions. He was dribbled past twice, but overall he provided good protection for his defence.

Habib Diarra - 6.5: Almost perfect with his passing, completing 96% of them. He kept things simple and ticking over in midfield. We noticed he was always available for a pass. However, he didn't offer a great deal of forward thrust or creativity. A disciplined but quiet game.

Enzo Le Fée - 7.0: He looked the most likely to make something happen for the home side. He was combative, winning half of his 12 duels and making three tackles. He tried to drive the team forward and drew a couple of fouls. A display full of grit and a bit of class.

Trai Hume - 6.0: The captain had a bit of an off day. His passing was erratic, completing only 60%, and he was wasteful in possession. He showed good intent with three shots, but none troubled the keeper. He worked hard as always but lacked the quality needed before his substitution.

Nilson Angulo - 6.5: Forced a good save from Alisson with a well-struck shot, which was Sunderland's best effort. He was a willing runner and tried to be direct, but he lost the ball far too often. He faded from the game before being taken off. A mixed bag.

Forwards

Brian Brobbey - 5.5: It was a thankless task for him up front. He was completely isolated and starved of service. The stats tell the story: he lost 12 of his 15 duels and was caught offside twice. He was physically dominated by Liverpool's centre-backs and offered next to no threat.

Substitutes

Lutsharel Geertruida - N/A: Replaced the injured Alderete but didn't have enough time to be rated.

Romaine Mundle - N/A: A late introduction with little impact.

Chemsdine Talbi - N/A: Came on for the final 10 minutes.

Wilson Isidor - N/A: Brought on in injury time.

Manager

R. Le Bris - 6.0: He set his team up to be compact and hard to beat, and for an hour, it worked perfectly. They frustrated Liverpool and limited them to half-chances. The major criticism has to be the lack of an attacking plan; they seemed to have no way of hurting the opposition. A decent defensive strategy but no threat going forward.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Sunderland

Check out Liverpool player ratings from the match against Sunderland:

Goalkeeper

Alisson - 7.0: A spectator for much of the game, which is a testament to his defence. When called upon, he made a smart save to deny Angulo. He was confident in claiming high balls and his distribution was fine. An easy day at the office for the Brazilian.

Defenders

Wataru Endo - 6.5: Played in an unfamiliar defensive role and did a respectable job before his injury. He was strong in the tackle and made seven clearances. He looked a bit awkward at times but was effective enough. A shame his afternoon was ended by an injury.

Virgil van Dijk - 8.5: Man of the Match. An absolutely imperious performance. He was a giant at the back, winning 8 of 9 aerial duels and making a staggering 14 clearances. He topped it all off with a fantastic header to win the game for his side. That's what world-class captains do.

Ibrahima Konaté - 8.0: The perfect foil for his captain. Brobbey didn't get a sniff against him. He won 8 of his 9 duels and made a crucial last-man tackle. He was so powerful and read the game brilliantly. A truly dominant defensive showing.

Andrew Robertson - 7.0: A classic Robertson performance. He was a constant outlet on the left, creating three chances for his teammates. Defensively, he was diligent and didn't give Sunderland anything down his side. His energy is just infectious.

Midfielders

Alexis Mac Allister - 7.5: He was everywhere in the midfield. His stats are incredible: 6 tackles and 9 duels won. He broke up play brilliantly and was so composed on the ball, linking defence and attack. A really intelligent and influential performance from the World Cup winner.

Florian Wirtz - 8.0: He was the spark for Liverpool. He was so unlucky not to score, hitting the post and forcing a great save. He was always looking to create, registering two key passes and having five shots. A fantastic player who just couldn't find the net today.

Ryan Gravenberch - 6.5: A bit of a mixed performance from our perspective. He was tidy enough on the ball for the most part but also lost it 14 times. He contributed defensively with six clearances but didn't impose himself on the game in an attacking sense. A solid, if unspectacular, outing.

Forwards

Mohamed Salah - 7.0: It was a strange game for Salah. In open play, he was quite wasteful, losing possession 20 times. But, when it mattered most, he produced a perfect cross for Van Dijk's winner. That assist bumps his rating up significantly. The match-winning contribution.

Cody Gakpo - 7.0: Looked very sharp before he was substituted. He created three chances and his movement off the ball was excellent. He linked up play intelligently between the lines. A positive contribution to the team's effort.

Hugo Ekitiké - 5.5: This was a day to forget for the striker. He missed two glaring opportunities that he simply had to score. His general play was okay, but a striker is judged on goals, and his finishing was dreadful. A performance that disappointed us, he has to be better.

Substitutes

Joe Gomez - N/A: Came on for the injured Endo and helped see out the clean sheet.

Curtis Jones - N/A: Injected some energy and almost scored late on.

Federico Chiesa - N/A: Not on the pitch long enough to receive a rating.

Manager

A. Slot - 7.0: His team selection and tactics were spot on. Liverpool controlled the game from start to finish. He'll be frustrated by the poor finishing, especially from Ekitiké, which made the game harder than it needed to be. Ultimately, it’s a job well done with three points and a clean sheet away from home.

Man of the Match

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was Sportsdunia's player of the match.

Worst Performer

Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike had a disappointing outing.