Liverpool FC only managed a draw against newly promoted AFC Sunderland in the Premier League. Florian Wirtz was involved in the Reds’ goal.
In the 1-1 draw at Anfield Road, Chemsdine Talbi (67′) gave the promoted side the lead, while Sunderland’s Nordi Mukiele scored Liverpool’s goal with an own goal. He deflected a shot from Florian Witz.
Sunderland is sixth in the table with 23 points, Liverpool is eighth with 22 points.
The game also saw a reunion between Wirtz and Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka. Both played in Leverkusen last season and became German champions there in 2024.
Sunderland made it difficult for the hosts from the start, coach Regis Le Bris’ team started the game bravely and kept pushing the “Reds” high. And they had their problems with that. The “Black Cats” also repeatedly failed on offense.
Liverpool, on the other hand, did not initially take off on the offensive. Sunderland offered little space in coach Arne Slot’s team’s densely staggered 4-4-2 system and defended cleverly.
Wirtz with a great chance, Hume hits the crossbar
The first big chance of the game went to Wirtz, of all people, who hasn’t yet gotten going in Liverpool. In the 23rd minute, the national player appeared free in front of Sunderland keeper Robin Roefs after a one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai, but did not get the ball past the Dutchman, instead putting it into the side netting.
But Sunderland also continued to play along. In the 32nd minute, Trai Hume shot from around 25 meters, Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker barely steered the ball onto the crossbar.
Shortly before the break Liverpool came again. First Roefs defused a powerful shot from Szoboszlai, then the goalkeeper was lucky when Alexis Mac Allister’s header hit the post. The 0-0 score at half-time was still fair enough.
Liverpool stronger in the second half
At the start of the second half, Liverpool played much more agilely and restricted Sunderland in their own half. This was also due to striker Mo Salah, who came on as a substitute at the break. However, the defensively strong guests did not allow any clear chances.
Sunderland had one after just over an hour. After a corner, Omar Alderete put a header on the short corner – and the ball landed on the outside post. And shortly afterwards, Chemsdine Talbi did better. After a mistake by Virgil van Dijk, the Belgian shot low into the corner from 25 meters.
Liverpool reacted angrily, but a lot of things up front remained too imprecise. No matter what the LFC tried, a Sunderland player always had a foot or a head in the way.
Mukiele deflects a joke shot
Until the 81st minute. Then Curtis Jones won the ball and then served Wirtz on the right in the box. He moved the ball into the middle and then hit the left corner from eleven meters. The shot was deflected by Mukiele and judged to be an own goal.
The last few minutes were a defensive battle for Sunderland, but Liverpool were unable to turn the game around. The visitors almost scored the winning goal, but Wilson Isidor couldn’t get the ball over the line after he had already circled around Alisson Becker. Federico Chiesa saved on the line.