Liverpool v Sunderland live: Arne Slot denied back-to-back wins as Reds held by Premier League high-flyers
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland: Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort helped salvage a point for the struggling Reds
Arne Slot was denied back-to-back wins as Premier League high-flyers Sunderland held Liverpool to a draw at Anfield.
While a 2-0 win at West Ham on the weekend hinted at a return to Liverpool’s old selves, they struggled to bring the game to the Black Cats and could have been behind in the first half after Trai Hume’s effort from range went through the hands of Alisson, only to bounce off the crossbar.
Omar Alderete hit the woodwork again after the break before Sunderland found the breakthrough thanks to a deflected effort from Chemsdine Talbi, a goal that stemmed from Virgil van Dijk’s poor defensive play.
Florian Wirtz thought he’d bagged his first Premier League goal to equalise in the 81st minute - only to see it ruled a Nordi Mukiele own goal - but the Reds could not find a winner in the time that remained, with their winless run at home stretching to three.
Follow all the action live from Anfield here:
Against Liverpool’s £100m men, Sunderland proved themselves as the smartest spenders
Federico Chiesa has started to forge a reputation as Liverpool’s latest super-sub because of his capacity to deliver crucial contributions in the opposition’s penalty area. As he cemented it, it was with injury-time heroics in his own. Liverpool were spared a 10th defeat in 14 games, a third in a row at home and a particularly embarrassing concession by a man who had been sent on to score a winner.
When Wilson Isidor’s 94th-minute shot beat Alisson, Chiesa turned rescuer. The last man back, his goal-line clearance was another illustration that the Italian never gives up. For that, Liverpool could be grateful. Having showed too little ambition at the start and too much at the end, they were carved open by one ball forward from goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Chasing a game, they at least claimed a point from a losing position for the first time this season. Yet while they ended up with a first draw of the campaign, an unwillingness to settle for it almost cost them.
Because really it was Sunderland who were denied victory; it would have been their first at Anfield since 1983 and when Chemsdine Talbi, scorer of a decider against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, put them ahead, he seemed on course for a notable double, while Sunderland were set for fourth place. As it was, they can still look down on Liverpool in the table and rue aspects of a night in which they hit the woodwork in both halves and when both scorers were Sunderland players.
Richard Jolly reports from Anfield:
Against Liverpool’s £100m men, Sunderland proved themselves as the smartest spenders
Curtis Jones: 'It's one of those nights again'
"We've got the guys in the team that can play, score and assist,” Jones said.
“We have asked for more aggressiveness. Flo ran and tackled and it's just a shame that it goes down as an own goal.
"We are playing against a team that sat back a bit. It's one of those nights again."
Sunderland keep up their stunning form to hold Liverpool at Anfield
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
Arne Slot was denied back-to-back wins as Premier League high-flyers Sunderland held Liverpool to a draw at Anfield.
While a 2-0 win at West Ham on the weekend hinted at a return to Liverpool’s old selves, they struggled to bring the game to the Black Cats and could have been behind in the first half after Trai Hume’s effort from range went through the hands of Alisson, only to bounce off the crossbar.
Omar Alderete hit the woodwork again after the break before Sunderland found the breakthrough thanks to a deflected effort from Chemsdine Talbi, a goal that stemmed from Virgil van Dijk’s poor defensive play.
Florian Wirtz thought he’d bagged his first Premier League goal to equalise in the 81st minute - only to see it ruled a Nordi Mukiele own goal - but the Reds could not find a winner in the time that remained, with their winless run at home stretching to three.
FULL-TIME! Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
Honours even! What an addition Sunderland have been to this division.
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
90+9 mins: A poorly cleared header is brilliantly brought down by Ekitike to set him up to shoot... but he fires over.
And that’s that!
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
90+8 mins: Liverpool have it in their corner. Is there time for one more chance?
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
90+7 mins: It’s a woeful corner from Szoboszlai, failing to beat the first man.
He retrieves it on the edge of the box and his second delivery goes through everyone. Goal kick.
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
90+6 mins: Liverpool have won a corner. We’re about to enter the seventh minute of added time.
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
90+4 mins: OFF THE LINE! OH. MY. WORD.
Liverpool have been the ones camped out in the opposition final third, but after Roefs collected a looping ball, he caught the Reds sleeping and with one kick sent Isidor in on goal.
He gets around the goalkeeper but Chiesa tracks back and is there to deny him on the line.
What drama!
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