By Francis Onyach - Reporter
4 December 2025 - Liverpool were forced to settle for a 1–1 draw with a stubborn Sunderland side, salvaging a point only through a late deflected equaliser, and avoiding what could have been a damaging home defeat.
Sunderland, fresh off a hard-fought comeback win against Bournemouth and a string of encouraging performances, took the lead in the 67th minute when Chemsdine Talbi fired a powerful long-range strike that beat Liverpool Keeper Allison and looped into the net. The opener was met with shock and awe from visiting fans, as the underdogs looked on course to hand Liverpool a rare home defeat.
Liverpool struggled to find fluency throughout the match. Although they dominated possession and looked for openings, the Reds lacked sharpness, with their attacking moves often breaking down before reaching the final third or ending in misplaced passes.
But just when the tension looked unbearable, and the prospect of defeat seemed imminent, a moment of relief came. In the 81st minute, Florian Wirtz twisted and turned defenders and fired a shot; the effort was deflected in by Nordi Mukiele, giving Liverpool a lifeline and sparing their blushes with a 1–1 draw. The goal was officially ruled an own goal.
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In stoppage time, Sunderland had a golden chance to snatch victory when substitute Wilson Isidor broke in on goal, beating the keeper, but a last-ditch block by Federico Chiesa denied them what would have been a historic win at Anfield.
The result does little to silence mounting concerns about Liverpool’s form, especially at home, where this was yet another disappointing performance. For Sunderland, it’s another statement, the newly promoted side once again showing resilience, hunger, and the ability to challenge even the biggest names. The Black Cats now sit 6th on the table, one point above reigning champions Liverpool, who are 8th with 22 points from 14 games.
