LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Chemsdine Talbi of Sunderland scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 03: Chemsdine Talbi of Sunderland scores his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield on December 03, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool had to come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League at Anfield.
Arne Slot reckons that Liverpool’s goal that they conceded in the draw against Sunderland was unlucky.
The Reds were held to a 1-1 draw against the Black Cats at Anfield. Liverpool’s performance was lacklustre for the most part as Sunderland deployed a low block and frustrated the home side.
And in the 67th minute, the visitors broke the deadlock through Chemsdine Talbi. The 20-year-old capitalised on a loose ball and pulled the trigger from long range, with his shot deflecting off Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and beating goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
There have been sections of supporters who questioned Van Dijk for backing off Talbi rather than stepping out of position and closing him down. Asked by LiverpoolWorld whether he wants his defenders to close the opposition down or drop off when shooting from long distance, Reds head coach Slot replied: “I think in the first instance when they have the ball free 30, 35 yards away from goal, it is smarter to take away the space because if you step out as a centre-back or a different position, the other team tries to exploit that space.
“So, first take away the space, but at a certain moment you move forward to the ball, which I think is what Virgil [van Dijk] tried and unlucky enough [it went in] off a deflection. I've seen so many deflected shots on the other end, where one of them led to a goal as well. We were again unlucky that from the few chances we've conceded, again we've conceded a goal.”
Liverpool’s draw against Sunderland meant that it was the 10th game in all competitions this season they have failed to win. In their past three matches at Anfield, the Reds have dropped points. Slot does not believe that Liverpool’s famous stadium has lost its fear factor.
But after winning the Premier League title so comfortable last season and are now 11 points behind leaders Arsenal, the Dutchman conceded that the opposition have belief that Liverpool can be stopped. Slot added: “No, not Anfield. For sure. But it's clear that teams that play us now think they can get a result. Not only think, because that has been shown this season. And even in the games we've won, they also fuelled the confidence for other teams like, 'Hmm, something is possible' because the wins we had at the beginning of the season weren't easy ones as well. I don't completely agree with you that they grew into the game because I think throughout the whole second half there was only one team that had the ball and only one team that was playing on one half.
“But yeah, if they got a free-kick off the referee or they had a goal-kick, they could bring it to our half with a long ball. And we had to defend three or four times a set-piece and a throw-in and a corner kick. And of course, that is a danger with them because they have shown this season that they are a threat in set-pieces. The good thing for us is we didn't concede from a set-piece. Maybe as a result, we got at least a point.”
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