Liverpool were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Sunderland, a result that felt like another setback despite last weekend’s encouraging 2-0 win over West Ham. Florian Wirtz rescued a point in the 81st minute with a deflected effort, preventing what could have been a worrying 10th defeat in their last 14 matches across all competitions.
Manager Arne Slot said the team once again paid the price for conceding from one of the few chances they allowed. He noted that while they pushed for a winning goal, recent form suggested they might have lost this fixture entirely, which he saw as a small positive.
Slot emphasised an ongoing concern: Liverpool’s lack of sharpness in front of goal. Despite dominating possession and completing more than twice as many passes as Sunderland, they struggled to create clear chances from open play or set pieces.
He also lamented the unlucky deflection that led to Sunderland’s goal but admitted his side was fortunate late on, when Wilson Isidor went through on goal before Federico Chiesa made a crucial goal-line clearance.
Slot praised Chiesa’s determination in that moment but reiterated the broader issue—Liverpool are not scoring enough, while opponents are making the most of their limited opportunities.
