Liverpool's pursuit of a top-four spot in the Premier League was nudged forward after a 1-1 draw with Sunderland, their first draw in 14 games. The Reds climbed to eighth place, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Leeds United at Elland Road.
Chemsdine Tabli's deflected goal in the 67th minute was cancelled out by Nordi Mukiele's own goal nine minutes from time. However, beyond the main headlines, there were several intriguing subplots during the Anfield standoff. One such subplot involved Alexander Isak, who was quickly reminded of his past ties with Newcastle by the visiting Sunderland fans.
Despite his £125million price tag and his less-than-amicable departure from Tyneside, the Black Cats' supporters, situated in the Anfield Road end, showed little sympathy.
Isak was met with boos when his name was announced pre-match by LFCTV's Peter McDowall, and the reception didn't improve much throughout the game, especially when one of his shots soared into the stands. Despite failing to build on his recent goal against West Ham, it's likely that the Sunderland fans' reaction was the least of Isak's concerns.
Ekitike rallies Kop
Another subplot revolved around Ekitike's efforts to win over the Kop.
A well-placed ball from substitute Milos Kerkez to his fellow replacement Hugo Ekitike, who was racing behind the Sunderland defence, forced defender Dan Ballard to concede a corner.
With the game in its 93rd minute, Ekitike sensed an opportunity. The crowd, especially those in the Kop, raised their voices several notches, and the Frenchman could be seen urging them to get even louder as Liverpool sought a last-minute victory.
This moment highlighted the players' belief in the power of the crowd's support, but it wasn't enough to secure a win as Sunderland stood their ground.
Despite the fans' unwavering support until the final whistle, a disappointing draw means Liverpool have only managed four wins in their last 14 games.
Slot restrains Hulshoff
Arne Slot's assistant Sipke Hulshoff, who was sent off in the aftermath of last season's match at Goodison Park, is known for passionately defending Liverpool's interests.
However, during the second half, Slot had to hold back the Dutch coach after substitute Mohamed Salah was fouled by left-back Reinildo Mandava. Salah tried to bypass the defender but was blocked, and referee Stuart Attwell did not award a free-kick.
Hulshoff attempted to vehemently argue his case with the officials, but Slot intervened to prevent any potential punishment.
Mac Allister celebrates alone
While there wasn't much for Liverpool to cheer about on the night, Alexis Mac Allister made sure to celebrate after one particular sequence of play.
As Sunderland posed a threat inside Liverpool's penalty box in the second half, the Argentine international was quick to recognise the danger and promptly cleared the ball well away from Alisson Becker's goal at a crucial moment.
While it wasn't the most elegant or stylish piece of defending, the World Cup winner celebrated the clearance as if he'd scored a goal, underlining its significance as Sunderland pushed for a surprise winning goal.
Regrettably, that was about as jubilant as it got for any of the players after Mukiele's own goal had equalised the score.