Anfield on the Edge: Liverpool pinch a point in a chaotic 1-1 draw with Sunderland
4 December 2025
Match snapshot
Liverpool hosted Sunderland at Anfield on a dramatic Premier League night, finishing 1-1 in the 14th round. Sunderland struck first through Shamsuddin Talbi in the 67th minute, and Liverpool equalized in the 81st when Nordi Mukiele inadvertently turned a cross into his own net.
Jurgen Klopp’s successor Arne Slot picked an aggressive start, keeping Mohamed Salah on the bench for a second game running as the side pressed high and attempted to impose themselves early with chances from Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz, both repelled by Sunderland’s goalkeeper.
The visitors began to grow into the game, with Alessio Isak’s header effort from a Mac Allister cross just missing as the first half closed, leaving the scoreline blank at the break.
In the second half, Salah appeared as a substitute for Cody Gakpo, but Liverpool’s rhythm dropped as Sunderland continued to defend resolutely. Ensuing moments saw Enzo Li and other quick breaks threaten but fail to convert before the deadlock was broken in the 67th minute by Talbi’s strike for Sunderland.
Liverpool responded quickly, and in the 81st minute a cross deflected off Mukiele and wrong-footed his own keeper, dragging the hosts back to parity. In the closing stages, Federico Chiesa came on for Isak in the 86th minute, injecting fresh impetus as the game opened up, while a late attempt by Hugo Ekitike was cleared off the line in stoppage time.
As the final whistle approached, Liverpool pushed for a winner with renewed energy, but Sunderland stubbornly held on to secure a share of the spoils and leave Anfield with a point to show for their efforts.
Punchline 1: If defense were a toothpaste, Liverpool’s would be the kind that floods the sink—always a little of everything, never the full brush.
Punchline 2: And if variance in football were a joke, tonight’s punchline was simple: even when you’re chasing a win, sometimes the goalposts move faster than your attackers. Go figure.
