UK media spots Virgil van Dijk reaction as Liverpool star is 'boy turning into a man'

Liverpool bounced back with victory over Sunderland, with the UK's media in attendance at the Stadium of Light to give their verdict as Arne Slot's 'call to arms' worked

Virgil van Dijk celebrates after scoring Liverpool's goal during the win over Sunderland(Image: Getty Images)

After the disappointment of the defeat to Manchester City, Liverpool gave its push for a Champions Leage spot a much-needed boost by becoming the first team to win at Sunderland this season.

Virgil van Dijk’s second-half header proved to be enough on a night when the Reds had to dig deep, especially after losing yet another player to injury when Wataru Endo had to be stretchered off.

Having deemed failure to secure a spot at Europe’s top table as ‘unacceptable’, Arne Slot got the result he needed, with the gap to Manchester United and Chelsea narrowed as Liverpool looks to finally build some momentum.

The UK’s national media were out in force as usual to watch the Reds’ latest outing at the Stadium of Light. Here’s what they made of Liverpool’s 1-0 victory…

The Guardian: "Arne Slot does not believe his job security hinges on Liverpool securing Champions League qualification this spring but the Dutchman would much prefer not to put that particular notion to the test.

"On this evidence there seems a decent chance last season’s title winning manager will not have to. In finally ending Sunderland’s proud unbeaten home record in the Premier League, sixth placed Liverpool left themselves only three points adrift Manchester United and two behind Chelsea.

"Régis Le Bris’s intelligent and well organised side did not surrender lightly but, with the excellent Florian Wirtz continuing to go from strength to strength in the No 10 role, Liverpool looked like champions and deserved to edge a match decided by Virgil van Dijk’s header from Mo Salah’s second-half corner."

Florian Wirtz in action for Liverpool against Sunderland(Image: (Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

The Times: "If it was a call to arms from Arne Slot to his players this week, that anything but Champions League qualification this season is unacceptable, then it worked.

"Led by an outstanding performance from Florian Wirtz, Liverpool became the first team to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League in this campaign.

"With it, Liverpool made ground on Manchester United and Chelsea, those two teams directly above them, in a battle for either a top-four or a top-five finish. More than that, however, was the dominance of their victory, not reflected by the single goal scored by Virgil van Dijk from a corner in the second half."

The Telegraph: "There have not been many tougher nuts to crack in the Premier League this season than trying to beat Sunderland away, but Liverpool did thanks to Virgil van Dijk’s header and the skill and artistry of Florian Wirtz.

"It was scrappy and messy; a dogfight. Sunderland made it a battle from start to finish as Régis Le Bris’s side did what they have done to so many teams before this season. They were direct, physical and dangerous, but Liverpool stood firm. They showed a steely side on Wearside and in the middle of it all was their little German maestro.

"Wirtz had initially found the speed and aggression of the Premier League difficult. It all looked a little too much for a player raised in the Bundesliga. A £116m price tag looked as heavy as the tackles he received.

"Wirtz has been rapidly improving, making the adjustments in his game for some time, but in standing tall in this clash, the 22-year-old looked like a boy turning into a man."

Daily Mail: "You need not be a body language expert to work out how much this victory meant for Liverpool, under-pressure manager Arne Slot and his troops.

"Virgil van Dijk's reaction to scoring a match-winning goal may have been rather low-key but the skipper and his colleagues soon made up for it by celebrating every block, tackle and clearance thereafter as if they had scored.

Arne Slot gestures from the touchline during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at the Stadium of Light(Image: ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP via Getty Images)

"There were five green Liverpool shirts around Van Dijk to mob him for a last-gasp intervention, more thanking the imperious Wataru Endo who injured himself in stretching for a clearance and then a queue to high-five Joe Gomez for a composed header when under pressure.

"Everyone, not least Slot, knew this was a momentous evening in their season after Van Dijk's 61st-minute header saw them become the first team to come to Sunderland and leave with a victory since their promotion back to the Premier League.

"Slot had said on Tuesday that his team would need to be 'close to perfection' if they were to qualify for next season's Champions League.

"In terms of performance, this was far from that perfection – but it was full of fight, resilience and patience that will stand them in good stead in the battle for top five."