The biggest positive for Arne Slot was probably that his team didn’t lose. Too often this season, Liverpool has responded poorly to adversity, but it at least showed some fight here.
Florian Wirtz, a bright spark once again, won’t get the credit for the goal that he forced, but it was his good footwork and determination that saw the equalizer go in. Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs was doing his best to stop a limited Liverpool, but he was, eventually, beaten.
Mohamed Salah didn’t make a huge difference when he came on, aside from a few minutes early on. The Egyptian started OK, but fizzled out.
Cody Gakpo, the man he replaced, was mixed and taken off at half-time. Alexander Isak was anonymous, and Hugo Ekitike, named on the bench, wasn’t turned to until the 74th minute.
For all that Liverpool has generally been better defensively for its last two matches — Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate's sloppy moments and Joe Gomez's tiredness aside — it still needs a bit more from its attack.
Even in the win over a dire West Ham, it took an Isak moment of magic to break the deadlock. As a collection of players, Liverpool’s forwards still look like they are learning to work with one another.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Alexander Isak of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Alexander Isak looks on during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
One big question is whether Mohamed Salah should start against Leeds. Another is rather more wide-ranging: what exactly does a Liverpool attacking move look like this season?
Last year’s sweeping counters and sustained bouts of pressure that wore teams down had a clear pattern and style. This Liverpool, though, is still working itself out.
Slot's side took 23 shots against Sunderland, but they were worth a combined expected goals (xG) total of just 1.37, according to Opta. At 0.06 xG per shot on average, that is the lowest in a Premier League game at Anfield since January 2016 (against Arsenal), of those fixtures where the home side has had 20 or more efforts.
If Szoboszlai doesn’t produce something from nowhere, or someone, like Isak at West Ham, isn’t able to make a goal out of nothing, there isn’t a sustainable source of creativity.
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Wirtz forced the equalizer here and he was a creative hub, but the German can’t do it all alone. He is an elite individual, but Liverpool isn’t yet anything close to being elite as a collective.
"It has nothing to do with Mo or anyone," Slot said live on Sky Sports when quizzed on his team selection. "I have not given a thought to how we will play at the weekend against Leeds. I have an idea who will start but I won't say."
But whether Salah plays or not at Elland Road, Liverpool simply needs to find some partnerships that work in its new-look team — all over the field, but especially in attack.
Here, it was disjointed again, with Isak isolated and Salah’s influence only minor. It might look a little surer of itself defensively, but that is only half the battle.