Arne Slot’s Liverpool dropped points yet again as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland at Anfield
Liverpool’s turmoil continued as they failed to beat Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday. Arne Slot’s side have picked up just two wins in their last nine matches.
Having bounced back last weekend against West Ham the Reds were hoping they’d be able to put the Black Cats to the sword on Merseyside. But after a goalless first half, they found themselves trailing.
Chemsdine Talbi opened the scoring after 66 minutes on Wednesday and the visitors looked on course for a momentous win before Florian Wirtz’s shot deflected in off Nordi Mukiele to level things and earn Liverpool a lacklustre point.
Wirtz has struggled since his summer arrival and although he thought he’d be credited with the 80th-minute strike, it was ruled an own goal. He was told live on TV that what would have been his first Liverpool had been taken away and his reaction said it all. Mirror Football brings you all the latest news from Anfield.
Florian Wirtz reacts to own goal
When Wirtz unleashed his shot on 80 minutes, Sunderland defender Mukiele stuck out a leg and the ball cannoned into the net. Wirtz celebrated as if the goal was his, but the goal accreditation panel would later adjudicate that it was an own goal.
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Speaking live to Sky Sports after the draw, Wirtz was informed that it was not his goal, which would’ve been his first in English football. He had an admirably optimistic response.
When informed, Wirtz took a deep breath and at first responded with a rather disappointed: “Yeah.” But after a pause he said: “Doesn’t matter today. We drew, we wanted to win, so that’s what counts today so yeah, unlucky.”
Despite struggling, Wirtz is evidently high-spirited and while the interaction was awkward, it showed that the German is continually operating with a team-first attitude.
Virgil van Dijk singled out
For Sunderland’s goal, one player in particular caught some criticism, captain Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher analysed the goal at full-time for Sky Sports and blamed the Dutchman in part for conceding it.
“Virgil van Dijk turns his back. That goal sums up Liverpool in this game,” said Carragher. “The performance was really, really worrying. It feels like a step back.
“They didn’t look like scoring,” continued the defender who made 737 Reds appearances. “They were lacking zip, energy, pace and power. It’s really worrying.”
At half-time he even stated: “They are sleepwalking through the game, everything feels so slow. Liverpool need to get organised for the second half. There’s far too much space all over the pitch.”
Liverpool hero makes Mohamed Salah claim
Mohamed Salah was dropped for the second league match in a row on Wednesday and came on at half-time. Ex-Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp stated on Sky Sports that he thinks the Egyptian won’t be best pleased with his role on the bench and could soon depart.
“It does feel like something has to give. There is no way that Mohamed Salah is going to be content with being a bit-part player in this team,” said Redknapp.
“Whether it is in the summer or January, I think he has earned the right to move on if things don’t go his way. I can only see that outcome.
“I feel like he needs that confidence and love from a manager. It feels like it could come to a head at some point. If you are going to Leeds, thinking you need a goal and want to play the Liverpool style, then Salah has to start.”
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