placeholder image
Getty Images for Sky Sports
Daniel Sturridge defended Wilson Isidor after his late opening at Anfield, saying the Sunderland striker showed composure in the moment.
Liverpool avoided a damaging home defeat after Federico Chiesa’s late goalline clearance denied Wilson Isidor a stoppage-time winner, as Sky Sports pundits praised Sunderland’s performance and dissected the game’s decisive moment.
Régis Le Bris’s side had stunned Anfield by taking the lead in the second half through Chemsdine Talbi, only for Florian Wirtz to fire Liverpool level with a deflected strike nine minutes from time. But even after that setback, Sunderland almost stole it at the death when Isidor rounded Alisson before Chiesa sprinted back to hook the ball clear on the line.
Speaking in the studio, Daniel Sturridge broke down the moment and highlighted both Isidor’s composure and Chiesa’s extraordinary recovery run. "Look, I think you can see Chiesa is the last man there. At least he's always really bright then. When he gets himself in a one-on-one situation, Roefs is a great kick. Amazing kick, and you're thinking to yourself, you've snuck away, you've got your big opportunity, goes round the goalkeeper, but you know what? Credit to Chiesa for getting back.
"But if you see him here, he's thinking to himself, keeper, can you do it for me? Can you do it for me? He plays it, it's a perfect ball, he's got all the time in the world, the goalkeeper, and you don't want... I would have took that earlier, based on... Alisson gave him an angle. He gave him an angle to shoot earlier on, but he decides to go around him, which, typically speaking, it's a safer finish if you have the ability to go around the goalkeeper.
"He's done everything right. Didn't anticipate Chiesa would be behind him doing that, but he executed everything perfectly. Could have took it earlier if he wanted to, he didn't. Executed that, but Chiesa's tenacity and his will to ensure that the team doesn't concede a goal, beautiful things to see, considering he's an attacker as well."
Jamie Redknapp, meanwhile, felt the draw summed up Liverpool’s wider issues under Arne Slot and praised Sunderland for forcing the champions into mistakes. "I don't think they could have had any complaints either. They had a standstill, 20 minutes, they chased the game, and then the enthusiasm of the Kop got the crowd going. And then you thought, OK, something might happen here.
"Can they get that win that we always expect that what we call a big side can do? They can just produce a moment, like what Phil Foden did the weekend. But what we see with Liverpool, they haven't got that confidence that Manchester City have got at the moment. Everything is hard work, you're second-guessing yourself, you're making elementary mistakes.
"The game looks really hard, and it's quite crazy to think and to see, because when you looked at Liverpool last season when they were at their best, everything seemed so simple. And we're talking about world-class players, but it actually just shows you something. They have the same virginity as everybody else."
The Echo has launched a new WhatsApp SAFC Channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates direct to your phone. Simply click this link to join ourSAFC WhatsApp channel.
Sunderland had arrived at Anfield above the reigning champions in the table and played with the same confidence they have shown all season. Brian Brobbey was outstanding on his first Premier League start, dragging Ibrahima Konaté into a physical battle he never looked comfortable with, while Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fée provided close support between the lines.
Le Bris’ side moved the ball sharply, defended with organisation and purpose, and showed no fear in a stadium where newly promoted sides traditionally retreat. Even after Wirtz’s equaliser, Sunderland continued to commit bodies forward, and Isidor’s late chance underlined how close they came to their first win at Anfield since 1983. In the end, Sunderland left with a point and a sense of what might have been. But they also left with the respect of the national media, with Sturridge and Redknapp both emphasising how far Le Bris has taken them already.
Continue Reading