Liverpool relied on a fortuitous 81st-minute deflection to claw back a 1-1 draw against a determined Sunderland side at Anfield on Wednesday, extending the Reds' struggles in a disjointed Premier League campaign.
The visitors appeared poised for their first victory at the stadium in over four decades after Chemsdine Talbi fired a stunning long-range effort past Alisson in the 67th minute. However, Florian Wirtz's miscued shot took a decisive deflection off Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele to level the score late on.
"Any team that does the basics right has a chance against this Liverpool side," remarked Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher, criticizing the hosts' lethargic performance.
Liverpool, missing Mohamed Salah in the starting lineup for the second time in four days, lacked cutting edge throughout. Substitute Salah injected energy after the break but failed to test Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs, while striker Alexander Isak endured a quiet evening.
Sunderland nearly snatched all three points in added time when substitute Wilson Isidor rounded Alisson, only for Federico Chiesa to clear his effort off the line. The result leaves Liverpool eighth in the table, one point behind sixth-placed Sunderland.
Key Moments:
- 67': Talbi curls a brilliant opener from 25 yards
- 81': Wirtz's wayward shot deflects off Mukiele for equalizer
- 90+3': Isidor denied by last-ditch Chiesa clearance
The match highlighted Liverpool's ongoing tactical imbalances, with Carragher accusing Arne Slot's side of "sleepwalking" through critical phases. Sunderland's organized defense and counterattacking threat underscored their progress under manager Tony Mowbray.
Both teams return to Premier League action this weekend, with Liverpool facing Aston Villa and Sunderland hosting Brighton.
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