Sunderland denied first Anfield win in 40 years by deflected Wirtz equaliser | OneFootball

Liverpool needed a late deflected equaliser from Florian Wirtz to avoid another damaging defeat in a troubled season as Sunderland were denied a first win at Anfield for more than four decades.

The Premier League champions trailed to a second-half strike from Chemsdine Talbi and were heading for a tenth loss in fourteen matches before Wirtz levelled with nine minutes left.

The Germany international struck from inside the area after working space cleverly, only for his effort to take a heavy touch off Nordi Mukiele and wrong-foot Robin Roefs.

It was a fortunate moment that summed up Liverpool’s campaign, with individual mistakes and wasteful attacking play leaving them reliant on luck to salvage results.

Sunderland will view the draw as a missed opportunity after producing another confident display in their impressive first season back in the division.

The visitors threatened early when Trai Hume’s strike forced Alisson to push the ball onto the bar.

Alisson was also required to tip over Talbi’s deflected volley in stoppage time at the end of a first half that lacked control from Liverpool.

Liverpool offered little invention and were careless in possession, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexander Isak unable to influence the game in a disjointed attack.

Alexis Mac Allister hit the post with a header from a Joe Gomez cross, but the hosts rarely shifted Sunderland from comfortable positions.

Arne Slot again named Mohamed Salah on the bench, with the forward omitted from the starting line-up for a second successive league match.

Salah was introduced at half-time to inject urgency, but Sunderland remained disciplined and confident in transition.

The breakthrough came when Virgil van Dijk mis-controlled a loose ball and directed a clearance straight into the path of Enzo Le Fee.

Talbi collected the pass on the right and fired a shot that struck Van Dijk on its way past Alisson.

The error sparked frustration around Anfield as Liverpool struggled to build sustained pressure against a well-organised opponent.

Wirtz’s equaliser arrived when substitute Curtis Jones dispossessed Talbi and released the forward inside the box.

The goal led to a frantic final period, with Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor racing clear deep into stoppage time.

Isidor rounded Alisson, but Federico Chiesa recovered to make a crucial goalline clearance that preserved a point.

Liverpool remain short of fluency and confidence despite halting their run of defeats, with structural issues in midfield and attack still visible.

Sunderland leave disappointed not to have secured a statement victory, yet continue to demonstrate resilience and tactical clarity under Regis Le Bris.

Liverpool escape with a draw, but their title defence remains in disarray after another night in which they relied on moments rather than performance.