Liverpool could only draw with Sunderland on Wednesday, though its run of Anfield defeats did come to an end in the Premier League thanks to a deflected effort from Florian Wirtz finding the back of the net.
After a goalless first period, Chemsdine Talbi opened the scoring with a deflected effort of his own, with Arne Slot and Regis Le Bris ending up sharing the points in a close encounter.
While Liverpool didn't lose, its captain, Virgil van Dijk, drew criticism for his part in the first goal of the game. He gave possession away easily and then backed off on the edge of the penalty area, with Talbi's strike looping off him and beating Alisson Becker.
"Van Dijk gives the ball away, and then he just drops off," the former Manchester City and England captain Steph Houghton said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"It's the wrong decision. He needs to go to the ball. Him not making the decision means that no one else knows what to do.
"If he goes to the ball then he forces Talbi out wide, whereas he gets the opportunity to shoot on goal. The way Sunderland have been playing at the moment that was more than likely going to hit the target."
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Slot was asked about his center-backs failing to move towards the ball during his post-match press conference, but he wasn't in agreement regarding what Van Dijk should have done.
"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," Slot said.
"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.
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"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.
"They didn't do anything that surprised me, no. Like I said, we know they can press really high and defend with 11 players around their box, that is what many teams do in the Premier League.
"That's the minimum you need to do — defend with 11 players — because this league has become so strong that it's very hard not to defend with 11 players."