Liverpool and Sunderland drew 1-1 in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
Liverpool's recent struggles in both results and performances continued in their first half against Sunderland. Outside of Alexis Mac Allister hitting the post with a header in the 44th minute, the hosts hardly created a thing in the final third, and their performance really seemed to lack energy and the pressing which has made them such a good team for so many years.
Liverpool's lacklustre first-half showing wasn't completely down to just themselves having another off night, but Sunderland were also putting in a performance which frustrated the reigning Premier League champions. The newly promoted side were pressing high and working incredibly hard, which saw them threaten on the counter several times in the opening 45 minutes.
The first half came to a close with the sides goalless at Anfield.
In the 61st minute, the woodwork was hit from a header yet again, but this time by the visitors. A corner was excellently whipped in, and Omar Alderete found himself unmarked at the near post and fired his header off the outside of the post. Liverpool started the second half looking a lot better than they did in the first, but Alderete's effort would've been a wake-up call to them that Sunderland still carried a threat.
Just six minutes after hitting the post, Sunderland took the lead through Chemsdine Talbi. The visitors won the ball high up the pitch, and Enzo Le Fee played it to the Moroccan, who unleashed a shot from distance, and after taking a huge deflection off Virgil van Dijk, it ended up in the bottom corner. Talbi's strike was fortunate to have gone in, but Sunderland wouldn't have cared how the goal came.
In the 94th minute, Sunderland almost scored a last-gasp winner. Robin Roefs played a phenomenal pass straight up the pitch to Wilson Isidor, and although the Frenchman took the ball past Alisson, it was blocked on the line, and the match remained 1-1.
Isidor's chance was the last action of the match, and the points were shared in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Match Highlights
To follow soon...
Liverpool Player Ratings
Mohamed Salah in action for Liverpool against Sunderland in the Premier League
GK: Alisson Becker - 6.5/10
Produced a few routine saves during the match and didn't really have much to do with the ball at his feet. The Brazilian was unfortunate to be beaten by Talbi's strike, as it took a huge deflection.
RB: Joe Gomez - 6/10
Was arguably fortunate not to have been given a red card for a poor challenge on Mandava. Gomez struggled with the intensity of Sunderland's players and didn't really offer anything going forward.
CB: Ibrahima Konate - 7/10
Didn't really put a foot wrong defensively, but just looked incredibly shaky and like a mistake waiting to happen with the ball at his feet.
CB: Virgil van Dijk - 7.5/10
Saw more of the ball than any other player on the pitch and didn't really put a foot wrong. Van Dijk struggled against Brobbey at times in the first half, but stayed resilient and put in a decent performance.
LB: Andrew Robertson - 7.5/10
Played with plenty of energy up and down the left flank. Robertson put some really good crosses into the box and didn't have much to do defensively.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister - 6.5/10
Hit the woodwork with a header in the 44th minute, but outside of that, Mac Allister was pretty poor. He seemed to struggle to deal with the intensity and pressing of Sunderland and wasn't that effective in possession either.
CM: Ryan Gravenberch - 7.5/10
A decent creative threat for Liverpool. Gravenberch's passes into the final third caused some real problems for Sunderland's defence, but he also worked his socks off and dealt with their high-pressing, aggressive midfield as well.
AM: Florian Wirtz - 7.5/10
Unfortunate not to have been awarded a goal for his strike in the 81st minute. Wirtz looked very lively and energetic going forward and created some decent chances for his teammates.
RW: Dominik Szoboszlai - 6.5/10
Tested Roefs several times with some dangerous shots from distance, but outside of that, Szoboszlai had quite a quiet evening.
ST: Alexander Isak - 4.5/10
Completely anonymous for most of the match. The Swede hardly ever got involved in play and also hardly had a sniff at goal.
LW: Cody Gakpo - 5/10
Hardly saw any of the ball and didn't really create anything going forward either. The Dutchman was substituted at half-time for Mohamed Salah.
SUB: Mohamed Salah - 7.5/10
Created more chances than any other player on the pitch despite only being brought on at half-time.
SUB: Hugo Ekitike - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
SUB: Federico Chiesa - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
SUB: Milos Kerkez - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
Sunderland Player Ratings
Omar Alderete in action for Sunderland against Liverpool in the Premier League
GK: Robin Roefs - 7/10
Produced several important saves throughout the match and managed his box very well for the most part. The Dutchman almost had an excellent assist to his name late in the match.
RB: Nordi Mukiele - 5.5/10
The Frenchman was unfortunate to score an own goal in the 81st minute, but outside of that, he was defensively solid and produced some important defensive actions.
CB: Daniel Ballard - 7/10
Produced plenty of blocks and clearances and managed to keep Isak quiet for the most part.
CB: Omar Alderete - 7.5/10
Like his centre-back partner Ballard, Alderete produced several important defensive actions and almost got on the scoresheet in the 61st minute as he hit the post.
LB: Reinildo Mandava - 7.5/10
Pretty much flawless defensively and extremely energetic going forward, which caused Liverpool plenty of problems.
RM: Trai Hume - 6.5/10
Didn't really produce anything in the final third, but worked his socks off and always helped out defensively.
CM: Granit Xhaka - 7/10
Worked incredibly hard and pressed well, but also had some tidy moments in possession of the ball, which was important when the match became chaotic.
CM: Noah Sadiki - 7/10
Put in a solid, hard-working performance. Sadiki, like Xhaka, pressed really well but also had some tidy moments with the ball at his feet.
LM: Chemsdine Talbi - 7.5/10 (Man of the Match)
Managed to get on the scoresheet with a pretty fortunate goal, but was at fault for giving the ball away for Liverpool's equaliser.
ST: Enzo Le Fee - 7.5/10
Provided an assist for Talbi's goal and also played a huge part in Sunderland's high-pressure, aggressive game plan.
ST: Brian Brobbey - 6.5/10
Didn't really get any service in front of goal, but was a handful to deal with every time the ball was put up to him. Brobbey fought for every ball and caused Konate and van Dijk some problems.
SUB: Wilson Isidor - 6/10
Almost won the match for Sunderland in the 94th minute after rounding Alisson Becker, but couldn't convert his shot.
SUB: Lutsharel Geertruida - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.
SUB: Luke O'Nien - N/A
Didn't do much after coming on.