Ian Doyle with the main talking point from Liverpool's Premier League clash at Sunderland on Wednesday evening
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-1 during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on February 11, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Virgil van Dijk celebrates with his Liverpool team-mates after scoring what proved to be the winner at Sunderland(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
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As the clock ticked down at the Stadium of Light, all eyes were on the fourth official. And the groans from the travelling support and renewed hope among the home crowd at the sight of seven minutes being signalled spoke volumes.
Having had the beating of Sunderland all evening, Liverpool were now left with one final opponent: their own understandably shaky self-belief in seeing the game out.
The manner of Sunday’s demoralising late defeat at home to Manchester City brought into sharp focus a failing that has severely compromised their Premier League aspirations.
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City’s winner was the sixth goal the Reds had conceded from the 90th minute onwards in the top flight this season, costing them eight vital points.
Deservedly ahead through Virgil van Dijk’s powerful header shortly after the hour, Arne Slot’s side always knew they would have to negotiate a lengthy additional period given the lengthy treatment required for Wataru Endo.
And that they ensured Sunderland remained more bark than bite during those seven minutes ensured an instant response to events at Anfield three days earlier.
Liverpool will perhaps gain more from ensuring this narrow victory in treacherous conditions than had they converted their dominance into a more comfortable triumph.
Certainly, they were the better team throughout and would have secured the win long before the final period but for some wayward finishing and Florian Wirtz striking the post.
Wirtz was again excellent, marrying his undoubted talent with strong pressing and a hard-work ethic that rubbed off on Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, who were both better than of late.
That Van Dijk’s goal came from a corner – an eighth set-piece goal in six games – would have felt like another box ticked for Slot.
With Manchester United and Chelsea having dropped points the previous day, this, despite Sunderland having been the one remaining side in England’s top four divisions not to lose at home in the league this season, represented an opportunity to make up ground in the race for Champions League qualification.
Liverpool grabbed it with both hands. And, more importantly, they kept hold of it. The battle for the top four is back on.
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