**Liverpool failed to rack up back-to-back wins at home to Sunderland.**
Chemsdine Talbi gave the visitors the lead midway through the second half with a stunning curled effort that saw Alisson beaten at his righthand post.
Yet Arne Slot’s side drew level in the final 10 minutes courtesy of a sublime solo effort from Florian Wirtz, which deflected off Nordi Mukiele into the net.
The Reds remain eighth in the Premier League table but are two points away from a top four position after putting together consecutive unbeaten games.
_Here were the key talking points from Anfield:_
Reds avoid fresh crisis… just
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Liverpool’s crisis may remain on hold but this was still too close for comfort.
Arne Slot already knew how fine the margins were for his side as they toiled once more on home soil, this time against resilient newcomers Sunderland.
But the Dutchman will be breathing a sight of relief after narrowly avoiding a 10th defeat from the fallen Premier League champions’ previous 14 outings.
Chemsdine Talbi’s superbly struck opener had given the Black Cats cause to believe that a first victory at Anfield since October 1983 was in the offing.
Deep in stoppage time, they scented blood again as substitute Wilson Isidor was given the freedom of the Reds’ half to bear down on Alisson’s goal.
The hosts’ defence was all at sea after Robin Roefs set the Haiti international away with a quickly taken kick out that left most Kopites fearing the worst.
Isidor looked almost certain to snatch a famous win after rounding Alisson, only for Federico Chiesa to produce a heroic last-gasp goal line clearance.
It spoke volumes of how Liverpool’s season has deteriorated that the Italian celebrated the interception as wildly as his late clincher against Bournemouth.
A small victory yet one which has staved a return to the recent disarray.
Salah’s struggles continue in return
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Dropping Mohamed Salah from the starting XI was once an act of heresy.
His eight-and-a-half years at Liverpool have redefined the record books; usurping multiple legendary names to excel wearing the famous red shirt.
Desperate times, however, have called for desperate measures with Salah seen neither use nor ornament in resolving to the team’s season-long woes.
This was only the second time in the forward’s Anfield career that he had been named on the bench for consecutive matches in all competitions.
In the Premier League, it was previously unheard of.
Overlooked for the entirety of last weekend’s much-needed win at West Ham, Slot finally introduced the 33-year-old at the interval in place of Cody Gakpo.
Any hopes that the ‘Egyptian King’ would herald his triumphant return to the frontline proved to be unfounded as he failed to influence proceedings again.
Salah’s incredible feats and supreme athleticism made him a marathon man but now increasingly resembles one who can no longer last the distance.
How long does Isak have left?
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Alexander Isak’s place in the Liverpool line-up is again under the microscope.
From euphoria at the London Stadium to enigmatic in Anfield; the British transfer record signing took another retrograde step against the Wearsiders.
Comng up against former club Newcastle’s arch-rivals should have served as added fuel to Isak in his attempts to prove that he is not simply a costly flop.
Yet the Swede did little to disprove those accusaitons as he resorted to potshots, notably ballooning an effort from the left-hand side of the box.
Due to the eye-watering £125 million fee and the circumstances in which he arrived on Merseyside, Isak has been afforded a degree of understanding.
For a player of his technical quality, though, the time for patience is now teetering ever closer to a point of no return for the 26-year-old marksman.
At some point, Slot will have to reconcile that persevering with Isak will not pay off and consider Hugo Ekitike’s dynamism a more effective option.