Rumours have been swirling around Slot’s future since last Sunday’s 2-1 home defeat against Manchester City, with the availability of Xabi Alonso after his departure from Real Madrid adding to the speculation around the current Reds boss.
It was captain Virgil van Dijk who came to his manager’s rescue, as he rose highest in the box with a little over an hour played in this game to deflect Mohamed Salah’s corner into the Sunderland goal to score what proved a vital match-winner.
As has been the case with so many Liverpool performances this season, Slot’s team lacked the killing touch to finish off their opponents and that led to a tension-filled conclusion, but they hung on for a win that leaves them just two points behind fifth-placed Chelsea.
Champions League qualification for next season is the minimum requirement for Slot – and in Florian Wirtz, he has a player who can carry their hopes in the final weeks of what has been a turbulent season.
The German international took time to find his feet in the Premier League, but he has grown into his role as Liverpool’s creative talisman and his contributions in the opening 45 minutes were laced with quality.
It was no surprise that Sunderland’s tactical approach was rooted in caution, with the tactics that Liverpool have found so tough to deal with in the Premier League this season deployed by Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris.
The home side were happy to allow Liverpool to dominate the ball, with their intention to shut down the attacking channels proving to be effective aside from a few moments of inspiration from Wirtz.
Sunderland’s attacks were fleeting, but they threatened in the 18th minute when Brian Brobbey went on the attack, but a well-timed challenge from Ibrahima Konate sniffed out that opening.
Liverpool have not scored inside the opening 34 minutes of a Premier League away match this season, but Wirtz tried to banish that statistic as his effort on the half-hour mark forced a flying save from Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs.
Wirtz went close again after 33 minutes as he collected a pass from Andy Robertson and fired a shot that crashed off the foot of the Sunderland post.
Sunderland penalty appeals were dismissed as Konate and Brobbey tussled in the box in the final moments of the first half, with the two managers probably content with first-half performances that would have ticked plenty of boxes for both.
Liverpool needed to convert their dominance of possession into an advantage in the second half, and their breakthrough arrived after 61 minutes.
Slot’s side had only scored two goals from corners all season prior to Van Dijk’s header that found its way into the back of the Sunderland goal despite the efforts of Habib Diarra on the line.
Replays suggested Van Dijk’s header was on target and that ensured the Dutch centre-back was awarded the goal and the visitors took a deserved lead in a game they badly needed to win in their push for a top-four finish.
On a night when Manchester City and Aston Villa secured wins, Liverpool’s pursuit of the teams ahead of them meant three points in this match were a must, with Sunderland always a threat in their forays forward.
Injury
Liverpool’s injury list claimed another victim when Wataru Endo suffered what could be a serious ankle problem in the 66th minute, with a stretcher required to haul the Japanese star off the field in agony.
Joe Gomez was called upon to fill the right-back role that has proved tough to fill for Liverpool this season, and he had a key role to play in what was a nervy finale.
Hugo Ekitike spurned a chance to finish off the match when he was presented with a free header at goal 12 minutes from time, but he spurned his chance and left the door open for a late Sunderland revival, with Salah also coming close to completing the win in the final seconds.
Liverpool’s habit of conceding late goals has been a theme of their troubled season and that explained their edginess as the game clicked into injury time, but they clung on for a valuable three points to condemn Sunderland to the first Premier League home defeat of their impressive season.