Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool drew 1-1 with Sunderland at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.
Both teams had struck the woodwork during the match – Sunderland on two occasions – before the visitors opened the scoring in the 67th minute.
Chemsdine Talbi’s long-range shot took a deflection off Virgil van Dijk and found the back of the net.
Liverpool responded late through Florian Wirtz, whose strike, aided by a deflection, levelled the score after he created space inside the area and fired a left-footed effort past Nordi Mukiele.
After the game, Arne Slot said: “So, I knew before the game, when you play Sunderland, from the 14 games they have played now they have only conceded four times more than one goal, and in these four games they’ve only conceded two.
“So, it’s a hard team to score against, it’s a hard team to create your chances against, because they either go really aggressive in a high press or they have 11 players – 10 outfield players and a goalkeeper – who defend their box with their lives.
“That’s why it’s so difficult to create. So, in that aspect, I was hoping for more – although I knew how difficult it is to create against them.”
“Again, we’ve hardly conceded. The first big chance of them – I don’t count the shot that hit the bar because that was not a chance – but the first serious chance was from a set-piece [and a header] that hit the post.
“And then their goal is, in my opinion, not even a chance.
“If that is a chance, we’ve probably had 20 chances tonight. But, unfortunately, a deflection led to going 1-0 down.
“Then, recently in our games we’ve found it really hard to get the equaliser, although we had our chances every time.
“Today, we had a little bit of luck with scoring the 1-1 because that was also a deflection. For me, different, because that’s a shot from eight, nine, 10 yards, so that’s at least a serious chance.
“Where a shot from 20 yards isn’t a serious chance – an opportunity but not a serious chance. So, a bit of both.”
Curtis Jones, who came off the bench, took to social media after the match to thank the fans for their support.
Jones said on his Instagram story: “We keep going. Thank you for the support always!”
Liverpool will return to action on Saturday evening when they take on Leeds United, who defeated Chelsea 3-1 at Elland Road on Wednesday night.
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