Liverpool avoided a shocking home defeat but once again left their fans on edge. Sunderland played with refreshing bravery and fully deserved their early lead: a powerful strike from Talbi deflected past Alisson Becker, and before that the hosts had already been saved by the woodwork after close attempts from Hume and Alderete.

Manager Arne Slot once again opted to start Mohamed Salah on the bench, bringing him on only after the interval — but the overall flow of the match changed only slightly. Liverpool looked short of ideas, lacking creativity in the final third, and needed a slice of luck to draw level: a strike from Florian Wirtz found the net thanks to a decisive deflection off Nordi Mukiele.

In stoppage time, the visitors nearly stole a famous victory, but Isidor was denied by a dramatic goal-line clearance from Federico Chiesa. Liverpool escaped with a point, yet the performance only raises more questions for Slot’s side as pressure continues to build.

2025-26, England - Premier League

Liverpool - Sunderland 1:1 (0:0)
Goals: Talbi, 67 (0:1); Mukiele, 81 (own goal) (1:1)

Liverpool: Alisson; Gomez (Jones Cur., 65); van Dijk; Konate; Robertson A. (Kerkez M., 86); Wirtz; Szoboszlai; Mac Allister A. (Ekitike, 74); Gravenberch R.; Isak (Chiesa F., 86); Gakpo (Salah, 46)
Substitution: Salah (from 46); Jones Cur. (from 65); Ekitike (from 74); Kerkez M. (from 86); Chiesa F. (from 86)
Bench: Mamardashvili; Endo W.; Nyoni; Ngumoha
Yellow Cards: Gomez 55

Sunderland: Roefs; Ballard; Alderete; Reinildo; Mukiele; Hume; Sadiki; Le Fée (Geertruida, 80); Xhaka; Talbi (O'Nien, 90); Brobbey (Isidor W., 62)
Substitution: Isidor W. (from 62); Geertruida (from 80); O'Nien (from 90)
Bench: Patterson A.; Neil; Mundle; Traore B.; Mayenda; Adingra
Yellow Cards: Le Fée 54