We need to talk about Granit Xhaka and Florent Ghisolfi's influence on the culture at Sunderland
The moments you may have missed before, during and after Sunderland’s trip to Anfield in the Premier League
Sunderland had faced one of their sternest examinations of the season as they travelled to Anfield, with Régis Le Bris’ side pushed throughout a fiercely contested Premier League encounter under the lights.
The major incidents told part of the story, but as always, the full picture was shaped just as much by the quieter details that unfolded around them. Across a frantic 90 minutes, there were tactical adjustments, off-the-ball exchanges, moments of frustration and spells of real composure, all of which helped explain how the game swung in each direction.
With the noise rising and pressure intensifying throughout, it was a night full of nuances that deserved a closer look. Here are the moments you may have missed fromSunderland’s trip to Anfield:
Régis Le Bris makes two changes to his Sunderland XI at Anfield
Sunderland reverted to a back five at Anfield, with Régis Le Bris making two changes to the side that beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday. The shift in shape saw Trai Hume recalled to the starting XI, with the Northern Ireland international playing on the right of a back five. Nordi Mukiele moved infield to operate on the right of the three central defenders, while Hume came in for Bertrand Traore, who dropped to the bench.
The change also altered Sunderland’s balance further forward. Chemsdine Talbi switched across to the right wing, with Enzo Le Fée operating from the left as Le Bris looked to give his side more width out of possession. There were knock-on effects for the bench too, with Luke O’Nien returning to the matchday squad in place of Chris Rigg to provide an extra defensive option.
Sunderland’s classy gesture to Liverpool ahead of game
One of the most striking scenes outside Anfield took place long before kick-off, as Granit Xhaka, Florent Ghisolfi and Kristjaan Speakman quietly stepped away from the team’s arrival to pay their respects to Diogo Jota. The trio laid a wreath at the memorial set up near the stadium, with Ghisolfi briefly pausing to make the sign of the cross on his forehead and chest before standing with the others in silence. Supporters nearby fell quiet before clapping.
Jota and his brother, André Silva, died last July in a car crash in the province of Zamora in Spain while returning to Liverpool for pre-season training. Jota had recently undergone minor lung surgery in Porto before getting married, and, on medical advice not to fly, planned to travel back to England via a ferry from Santander. The brothers were driving to the port when, according to the Spanish Civil Guard, their Lamborghini Huracan suffered a tyre blowout while overtaking on the A52 motorway.
Robin Roefs and Virgil van Dijk exchange moment before fixture
There was a brief but telling moment in the tunnel before kick-off as Robin Roefs and Virgil van Dijk shared a quiet exchange. The pair know each other from recent Netherlands camps, with Roefs included in the last three senior squads despite still waiting for his debut. Van Dijk offered a quick smile and a word before the teams walked out, a small gesture of recognition that did not go unnoticed.
Kevin Phillips spotted in the away end at Anfield and Arne Slot chants
Kevin Phillips spent the entire game in the away end at Anfield, a detail the Sky cameras picked up several times across the night. The Sunderland legend, who scored at Anfield during his playing days with the Black Cats, was in among the travelling support from the first whistle to the last.
Fans around him eventually realised who they were standing with, but Phillips kept a low profile throughout, choosing to experience the occasion shoulder to shoulder with the Sunderland supporters. The former England international was pictured celebrating Talbi’s goal wildly in the second half.
After Sunderland took the lead in the second half, the away end erupted with a familiar chant aimed at Arne Slot. The travelling supporters broke into a loud burst of “you’re getting sacked in the morning,” directed at the Liverpool head coach as the tension inside Anfield grew.
Trai Hume and Luke O’Nien moments late on in the game
There was a brief injury worry for Trai Hume around the 72nd minute after he took a heavy clattering on the right side. Sunderland’s medical staff were quickly on, with a few anxious glances from the bench, but the Northern Irishman was eventually back to his feet and able to continue, easing the concern inside the away end.
A quieter but significant moment followed later in the half as Luke O’Nien came on to make his Premier League debut. The double promotion winner has now represented Sunderland in the top-flight, the Championship, League One, the EFL Cup, the EFL Trophy and the FA Cup, completing a journey few could have imagined when he first arrived at the club.
Sunderland’s record at Anfield made for grim reading
Sunderland returned to Anfield for the first time since 2017, stepping into one of English football’s most daunting arenas with a 41-year wait for an away win hanging over them. Not since the 1983-84 campaign had the Black Cats taken all three points on Merseyside. That last victory came on October 1, 1983, when Gary Rowell scored from the penalty spot to seal a 1-0 win during a season that would end with Sunderland finishing 13th in the old First Division.
The date sits in a very particular moment in British history. It was the day before Neil Kinnock was elected leader of the Labour Party following Michael Foot’s retirement, winning more than 70 per cent of the vote and appointing Roy Hattersley as his deputy. Liverpool were the defending champions, England was struggling to qualify for Euro 84, and violence surrounding the national team made almost as many headlines as the football itself. Sunderland, meanwhile, steadied themselves under Len Ashurst and eventually finished 13th with 52 points from 42 games.
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.
Wednesday’s game at Anfield was the first Premier League meeting between the sides in more than eight years after Sunderland’s long climb back from the Championship and League One. What once felt like a routine top-flight fixture had become a marker of how far the club had come since the darkest days in the entirety of its history.
Continue Reading