Liverpool vs Sunderland summary: score, stats, goals and highlights | Premier League 2025/26
Florian Wirtz thought he’d scored his first goal for Liverpool only to listed as an own goal in another uninspiring team performance at Anfield.
A much needed 0-2 win against West Ham at the weekend eased some of the pressure on under-pressure Liverpool manager Arne Slot. But the Dutch coach is far from out of the woods yet. After a record-breaking transfer window spree having splurged almost half a billion pounds to rebuild the squad, the Reds have posted their worst start to a Premier League season in three years and the worst run of results across all competitions since 1953.
Wednesday’s visitors to Anfield Sunderland, who were promoted back to the Premier League last season after an eight-year absence, have been doing better than Slot’s side and sit sixth in the table with 22 points - one points and two places above Liverpool. Just three defeats so far for Régis Le Bris’ team, who have beaten Chelsea and drawn against Arsenal in their first season back so will be no pushovers.
In fact, with 18 points from 11 games, it is the Reds worst start to a season for three years.
Liverpool lost 5-1 to both Portsmouth and Manchester United in December 1953, and then 5-2 to West Brom on Christmas Day before stopping the rot with a goalless draw in the Boxing Day rematch.
That was part of a run of nine defeats in 11, interrupted only by a 5-2 win over Blackpool and that draw with West Brom. All of those came in the league apart from an FA Cup third-round exit against Bolton.
Following the Blackpool game, Don Welsh’s side went 15 games without a win from December until the end of March as they ultimately finished bottom of the First Division and were relegated -- the last time the club have suffered that fate. Welsh remained in his post until May 1956 before being sacked.
While their 1953-54 form was even worse than the current run, Liverpool had finished 17th the previous season so it perhaps came as less of a shock than for Slot’s defending champions.
Match ends, Liverpool 1, Sunderland 1.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Sunderland 1.
Attempt missed. Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Luke O'Nien.
Attempt blocked. Wilson Isidor (Sunderland) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Robin Roefs.
Attempt saved. Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Robin Roefs (Sunderland). Assisted by Florian Wirtz.
Attempt blocked. Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Dan Ballard.
Foul by Hugo Ekitiké (Liverpool).
Robin Roefs (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Sunderland. Luke O'Nien replaces Chemsdine Talbi.
Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Milos Kerkez.
Attempt blocked. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dominik Szoboszlai with a cross.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Trai Hume.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Reinildo Mandava.
Attempt missed. Curtis Jones (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt blocked. Federico Chiesa (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Attempt blocked. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, Liverpool. Milos Kerkez replaces Andy Robertson.
Substitution, Liverpool. Federico Chiesa replaces Alexander Isak.
Delay in match because of an injury Wilson Isidor (Sunderland).
Handball by Dan Ballard (Sunderland).
Own Goal by Nordi Mukiele, Sunderland. Liverpool 1, Sunderland 1.
Attempt missed. Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Curtis Jones.
Substitution, Sunderland. Lutsharel Geertruida replaces Enzo Le Fée.
Foul by Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool).
Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Alexander Isak (Liverpool).
Dan Ballard (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution, Liverpool. Hugo Ekitiké replaces Alexis Mac Allister.
Delay in match because of an injury Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Attempt missed. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Florian Wirtz.
Offside, Liverpool. Florian Wirtz is caught offside.
Goal! Liverpool 0, Sunderland 1. Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée.
Substitution, Liverpool. Curtis Jones replaces Joe Gomez.
Substitution, Sunderland. Wilson Isidor replaces Brian Brobbey.
Foul by Alexander Isak (Liverpool).
Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Omar Alderete (Sunderland) hits the left post with a header from the left side of the box. Assisted by Enzo Le Fée with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ibrahima Konaté.
Attempt blocked. Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Attempt missed. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Gravenberch following a fast break.
Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
Attempt missed. Joe Gomez (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mohamed Salah with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Reinildo Mandava.
Attempt missed. Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) right footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the left is too high from a direct free kick.
Joe Gomez (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Joe Gomez (Liverpool).
Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Enzo Le Fée (Sunderland).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Trai Hume (Sunderland).
Foul by Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool).
Reinildo Mandava (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Liverpool. Mohamed Salah replaces Cody Gakpo.
Second Half begins Liverpool 0, Sunderland 0.
First Half ends, Liverpool 0, Sunderland 0.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Alisson Becker.
Attempt saved. Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Alisson Becker (Liverpool).
Fourth official has announced 1 minutes of added time.
Corner, Sunderland. Conceded by Ibrahima Konaté.
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Joe Gomez with a cross following a corner.
Attempt blocked. Alexander Isak (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Gravenberch.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Robin Roefs.
Attempt saved. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Robin Roefs (Sunderland). Assisted by Ryan Gravenberch.
Attempt blocked. Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Florian Wirtz.
Offside, Sunderland. Dan Ballard is caught offside.
Foul by Joe Gomez (Liverpool).
Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Liverpool. Cody Gakpo is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Trai Hume (Sunderland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner by Alisson Becker (Liverpool).
Attempt saved. Omar Alderete (Sunderland) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Alisson Becker (Liverpool).
Attempt blocked. Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Foul by Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool).
Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Noah Sadiki.
Attempt saved. Omar Alderete (Sunderland) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Alisson Becker (Liverpool). Assisted by Noah Sadiki.
Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Brian Brobbey (Sunderland).
Attempt blocked. Alexander Isak (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Noah Sadiki (Sunderland).
Offside, Sunderland. Trai Hume is caught offside.
Attempt saved. Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Robin Roefs (Sunderland).
Attempt missed. Alexander Isak (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Virgil van Dijk.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match (Liverpool).
Foul by Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool).
Brian Brobbey (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool).
Attempt saved. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Robin Roefs (Sunderland). Assisted by Andy Robertson.
Foul by Alexander Isak (Liverpool).
Granit Xhaka (Sunderland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Florian Wirtz (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Sunderland).
First Half begins.
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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