Liverpool emerged from Sunderland with a vital three points and a priceless clean sheet, with Arne Slot stacking his starting XI with the old guard in an experience-first approach.
Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool
Premier League (26) | Stadium of Light
February 11, 2026
Goal: Van Dijk 61′
Alisson – 8 (out of 10)
Wasn’t much called upon in the opening stages, fulfilling his duties with the customary ease.
Several big punches in the second half as the hosts swelled with confidence. Made sure Liverpool remained on top and stayed buoyed by belief.
Andy Robertson – 7
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's Andy Robertson during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A proper vice-captain’s performance. Came in and got the job done, minimal fuss whatsoever despite no longer being first choice.
Clicked with the skipper as we’re used to seeing, and helped settle the back line.
Still very much potent when going forward, with his advancing runs unlocking ample space for Cody Gakpo to wander into.
Virgil van Dijk – 8
Didn’t shy away from the duel and shrugged off tussle after tussle throughout this brisk north-east evening.
Benefited from the familiar return of Robertson, and Ibrahima Konate holding his composure helps the captain out considerably.
Covered every blade in the first half and was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet at least once, before getting the decisive flick in forcing Habib Diarra to help the ball over the line.
Ibrahima Konate – 9 (Man of the Match)
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté is challenged by Sunderland's Brian Brobbey (L) during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Big, bold and imposing. A confidence is back running through Konate’s game that we haven’t seen all season.
It’s been a heartbreaking month for Ibou, and he’s responded in the best possible manner.
Pulled off a superb block on the 20-minute mark to deny a searching low cross finding the feet of Brian Brobbey and kept the big Dutchman in his back pocket throughout the second half with a series of powerful, crunching challenges.
A top performance.
Wataru Endo – 7
Never looks like he’s been out of the team, despite hardly ever leaving the subs’ bench. Only his second-ever Premier League start under Arne Slot, ran hard and held the shape well across the back line.
Very Endo to hurl himself at a clearance and twist his knee, only to fight through the pain and play on despite needing a stretcher.
Gutted for this shining example of a disciplined footballer and athlete. A credit to himself and this football club.
Ryan Gravenberch – 6
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Wasn’t able to stamp much authority in the centre of the park but tried to plug channels where possible.
Did a fair job of getting his foot in to intercept wayward passes, but certainly didn’t take this one by the scruff of the neck and strut forward in possession with his usual silk.
A very midweek away ground performance.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7
Starting to look a little more like his usual self.
Turned over and recycled the ball much better than he has done in recent weeks and looked to pry openings whenever Sunderland allowed gaps to appear.
Still lots of question marks around why Mac Allister is getting starting nods over Curtis Jones, after the latter’s solid run in the side around the festive period.
Florian Wirtz – 8
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A game of fine margins for Liverpool’s magician.
Found himself in the right place on heaps of occasions, with his movement and footwork enough to make Sunderland defenders hesitate time and again.
Very unfortunate to be denied by the post in the first half, and remains a great decoy for Mohamed Salah running in behind.
Cody Gakpo – 6
Jogged off at half-time absolutely filthy, testament to putting himself around this steadily more mud-swamped pitch.
Constantly demanded the ball but looked increasingly one-dimensional in his efforts. The cut inside, again and again, sure gets awfully repetitive when it bears no fruit.
Was always obviously going to be the first face in the front line to be withdrawn.
Mohamed Salah – 7
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Grew into the game and looked more and more like Liverpool’s most obvious outlet, timing his runs well once it became clear how much Sunderland were willing to sit off Wirtz.
Flashed an effort narrowly wide in added time which would have been a cherry on the cake.
Picks up another assist, and is now Liverpool’s joint all-time assist maker alongside none other than Steven Gerrard with 92. The records never cease to fall.
Hugo Ekitike – 6
A slow burner for the Reds’ in-form forward, who was clearly under instruction to be man-marked from the first whistle.
His touch remained sharp and his ability to shoot from distance meant the hosts failed to activate a full press on numerous occasions.
Was in the right place at the right time plenty, but the finishing wasn’t there on this occasion.
Overall Team Performance – 7
Substitutes
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's Wataru End? is greeted by Joe Gomez (L) as he carried on a stretcher injured during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Joe Gomez (on for Endo, 64′) – 6
Stood firm and did what was asked of him.
Curtis Jones (on for Gakpo, 75′) – 7
A late-stage cameo but looked good on the ball, found his passes well and almost scored on 85 minutes after a neat cut-back interchange with Wirtz.
Will be frustrated not to still be starting matches.
Federico Chiesa (on for Ekitike, 89′) – N/A
Didn’t have much time at all to make an impact, but a wise sub given Ekitike wasn’t at his usual high standards and Liverpool had lost a measure of urgency in the forward press.
Subs not used: Marmardashvili, Kerkez, Ramsay, Nyoni, Morrison, Ngumoha
Arne Slot – 8
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Wednesday, February 11, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the FA Premier League match between Sunderland AFC and Liverpool FC at the Stadium of Light. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
No getting away from the fact that this was a white-knuckle fixture for Slot, following the recent Man City meltdown.
The manager backed himself in midweek and answered questions authoritatively, especially when asked about the potential inclusion of Calvin Ramsay at right-back.
Threw in Endo and brought back Robertson and stuck to his guns, keeping Liverpool robust and a team not to be pushed around.
This was a starting XI with five players aged 31 or older, the first time in a league match since November 1953.
The injection of widespread experience worked insofar as Liverpool remained compact, but were a far cry from their ferocious, dangerously selves of last season.
Still, we’re at a point now this season where you can only have one thing or another, unfortunately.
On this occasion it resulted in three important points taken from what definitely could have been yet another banana-skin away fixture. They saw this one out, and credit is due.