Wirtz intervention rescues point for ailing champions Liverpool against Sunderland

Liverpool's Florian Wirtz scores the equaliser. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1

Garret FitzGerald was less than a year into his reign as taoiseach and Culture Club’s Karma Chameleon topped the charts in Ireland when Sunderland last triumphed over Liverpool at Anfield.

The visitors’ long wait to repeat that success continued following a moment of inspiration from Florian Wirtz, whose driving run ended with the unfortunate Nordi Mukiele turning home into his own net. That slice of misfortune denied Regis Le Bris’ men what would have been a deserved victory, after Chemsdine Talbi’s second of the season had earlier fired them ahead.

More purposeful, cohesive and, for the most part, threatening, Sunderland could and probably should have prevailed as Arne Slot, who once again started Mohammed Salah on the bench, watched his players deliver the kind of lacklustre performance which explains why they find themselves languishing in mid-table.

Wilson Isidor should have restored Sunderland’s advantage deep into stoppage time but Federico Cheisa dashed back to clear the substitute’s shot off the line.

Le Bris’ reaction at the final whistle betrayed the fact Sunderland had missed an opportunity to claim yet another high profile scalp after beating Chelsea two months ago.

By dispatching West Ham on Sunday, Liverpool’s players eased some of the pressure on Slot having lost nine of their 12 outings en route to east London. But after accepting the challenge of replacing Jurgen Klopp following the German’s retirement, the former Feyenoord chief entered this assignment knowing that not even last term’s Premier League title would completely erase the doubts surrounding his suitability for one of world football’s hottest of hot seats.

The portents for Slot were good ahead of kick-off, with Liverpool beginning the contest having lost only one of their previous 25 midweek outings in top-flight competition. But it quickly became apparent that Sunderland were not going to be cowed into submission when Le Fee nearly found Brian Brobbey, who was loitering with intent, at Alisson’s near post.

A speculative effort from Alexander Isak, midway through the opening period, saw Liverpool’s first foray into the opposition end in disappointment. Florian Wirtz should have found the back of the net, after a misplaced clearance from Ralph Roefs, only to prod agonisingly wide from point blank range.

Omar Alderete responded with a long distance drive which flashed past several defenders but not Alisson. Sunderland were right to be ambitious, as they continued to look more dangerous - something Trai Hume underlined when Alisson was fortunate to tip his powerful shot onto the crossbar.

That was an escape for Liverpool, as well as a huge slice of luck. Moments before the interval, they nearly took advantage as Alexis Mac Allister’s header shaved the outside of a post. That near miss could not disguise the fact, though, that the hosts had been abject. Slot’s decision to introduce Salah at the start of the second-half was another admission that Liverpool’s standards had once again fallen well below expectations.

What followed was a huge improvement, as Dominkik Szoboszlai fired over and a corner from Salah provoked a skirmish in Sunderland’s box.

Still, the best chances continued to be created at the other end of the pitch. Alderete thought he had broken the deadlock after meeting Lee Fee’s corner only to see his header hit the woodwork. It was no surprise, therefore, when Sunderland took the lead in the 67th minute. Van Dijk’s error handed possession to Le Fee and he in turn fed Talbi who produced a clinical finish.

Fourteen later, Wirtz took advantage of a rare Sunderland lapse by dancing through a crowded penalty area and blasting home beyond Roefs to open his Liverpool account in style. It took a wicked deflection off Mukiele en route, which left the Dutchman stranded.

Yet more slack play from Liverpool presented Isidor with a golden chance at the death. Despite rounding Alisson, though, he was left holding his head in his hands after seeing Cheisa, showing the kind of conviction many of his colleagues had lacked, darted back to intervene.

Liverpool: Alisson 6; Gomez 6 (Jones 65, 6), Konate 6, van Dijk 6, Robertson 6 (Kerkez 87); Gravenberch 6, Mac Allister 6 (Ekitike 74); Szoboszlai 7, Wirtz 6, Gakpo 5 (Salah 46, 6); Isak 6 (Cheisa 86). 

Sunderland: Roefs 6; Hume 7, Mukiele 6, Ballard 7, Alderete 8, Mandava 7; Talbi 7 (O’Nien 91), Xhaka 6, Sadiki 6, Le Fee 7 (Geertruida 78, 6); Brobbey 7 (Isidor 62, 6).

Referee: Stuart Attwell.