Liverpool and Arne Slot piled more pressure on themselves after change didn’t return success as they mustered an equaliser after conceding first for the 11th time in 14 games.
Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland
Premier League (14) | Anfield
December 3, 2025
Goals: Mukiele OG 81’; Talbi 67’
1. More pressure on Arne Slot
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot and first assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff (R) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
There was some positivity at the end of the game for Liverpool thanks to the equaliser instigated by Florian Wirtz, and though it could have been much worse, a draw was still a poor result for Liverpool.
Sunderland are a good outfit, but Liverpool were too often their own worst enemies, as has too often been the case this season.
Slot regularly makes changes to his formation and now also to his lineup, both at the start of games and mid-game, but it rarely seems to work.
There will now be pressure on the manager to get the away win against a Leeds team they will be expected to beat, but who also just defeated Chelsea 3-1.
2. Salah dropped but soon called upon
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah replaces Cody Gakpo at half time during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Missing one game can be called a rest; missing two means you’ve been dropped in favour of an alternative.
It’s the first time in Salah’s time at Liverpool that he’s been on the bench for consecutive Premier League games, and only the second time in his entire Anfield career in all competitions.
Slot cited continuity as the reason for fielding what was the same lineup that won at West Ham, aside from Andy Robertson replacing Milos Kerkez.
This didn’t last long, though, and Slot introduced Salah at halftime.
A substitution so early on in a game could be seen as an admission by the manager that he got his original selection wrong, but Salah didn’t make much of an impact when he came on.
It doesn’t feel like the team is any worse or better with Salah in the lineup currently, although even in this scenario, you’d start such a great player more often than not in the hope of a moment of magic.
3. Slot’s starting tactic did not work
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz receives instructions from head coach Arne Slot (L) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The halftime change in personnel also brought a change in formation, which again was an early admission that the starting tactic wasn’t working.
Slot sent his team out for the first half in the same 4-4-2 shape that won against West Ham, with Wirtz off Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai on the right.
It worked quite well in attack in London, and though a bit lopsided, a side doesn’t necessarily need symmetry to have balance.
Slot only gave the same system one half of football against Sunderland before turning to something different. Perhaps it wasn’t enough time.
After halftime, it looked like the more familiar 4-3-3 with Wirtz and Salah on either side of Isak, and though there was more control of the ball, there was too much aimless passing around the edge of the opposition area.
After Liverpool conceded from a set piece, they pushed and pushed for an equaliser and then a winner, going to a more all-out-attack shape late on, but the tactical changes couldn’t help them get a second goal.
4. The Gakpo conundrum
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 19, 2025: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo reacts after missing a chance during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The substitution of Gakpo at halftime would have been welcomed by many, but the Dutchman has been more useful than appearances sometimes suggest this season.
A cut inside, a blocked shot, a loss of possession to stop a promising attack, a cleared cross, and a shot over the bar. These are all frustrating moments, but at the same time, they are at least attempts to make things happen.
Few Liverpool players have offered such proactivity in attack this season.
Gakpo has been as good as he has been bad, scoring goals and creating chances amid the frustrating moments.
Going into this game, only Erling Haaland was ahead of the Dutchman for expected goals plus expected assists combined in the Premier League, so the fact remains that Gakpo is Liverpool’s most productive player this season.
He’s ahead of Salah for goals and assists, and also for expected goals and expected assists. Whether actual or underlying, he has been the player most likely to produce.
Taking him off at halftime might not have been the best decision once the team were desperate for goals.
5. Leeds is now a big game
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister reacts to hitting the right post during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
On paper, West Ham, Sunderland, and Leeds looked like an easy run for Liverpool, and a chance to put some wins together and move up the table.
Sunderland are not in their lofty position in the table by accident, though, and were always going to be a tough test, but Liverpool should be winning such games at Anfield.
Leeds, meanwhile, defeated Chelsea while the Reds were struggling to defeat Sunderland, and are another team who will be going into a game against Liverpool not fearing defeat, and even looking to win.
It’s a much bigger game for Slot than it should be, but it’s also a chance to start to turn things around. Again.