Liverpool manager Arne Slot watched his team fail to assert themselves against a newly-promoted visitor, then saw it go from bad to worse at Anfield.
**MORE —** [Liverpool v Sunderland recap, video highlights](https://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/news/liverpool-vs-sunderland-recap-final-score-analysis-video-highlights)
Chemsdine Talbi took a Virgil van Dijk giveaway and scored with a shot that deflected off the Dutchman’s rear end as Sunderland took a 1-0 lead in the second half and held on tight.
Alexander Isak struggled again for Liverpool, who kept Mohamed Salah out of the XI for the second-straight game.
Salah entered and improved Liverpool’s play but they still needed a bit of luck just to get a draw. Florian Wirtz dribbled through a pair of Sunderland defenders but needed a wicked turn on his shot to produce what’s gone down as a Nordi Mukiele own goal.
We’ll share all of Slot’s words as soon as he speaks from Anfield.