A look at some of the 'moments missed' from Liverpool's 1-0 win at Sunderland on Wednesday night
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Liverpool's Alisson Becker celebrates his side's goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on February 11, 2026 in Sunderland, United Kingdom. (Photo by Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Alisson Becker celebrates his side's winning goal during the Premier League match between Sunderland and Liverpool at Stadium of Light on February 11, 2026(Image: Alex Dodd - CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Liverpool closed the gap on Manchester United in fourth to three points courtesy of a 1-0 win at Sunderland on Wednesday night. Virgil van Dijk's header in the second half was enough to inflict a first home defeat of the campaign for the Black Cats.
But you knew all of that, of course. What you might have missed, however, were a series of intriguing subplots on the night at the Stadium of Light.
Here, as always, is the best of the ECHO's 'moments missed' - some of the unseen bits from the evening.
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Angry Alisson has his message heard
There were just four minutes on the clock and Sunderland were already full tuned in to their pre-match game-plan. The Black Cats were content to sling the ball into the box and look to capitalise on the Reds' supposed shortcomings.
In truth, it was a sound strategy given Liverpool have laboured at times this term when trying to stand up to that style football, and with one long ball into the box requiring Alisson Becker to be particularly alert, the Brazil international made sure his colleagues got the message.
Alisson raced from his line to cut out the high ball into the box and punch it out for a throw-in. Clearly frustrated that he needed to race from his line to deny a chance when his team-mates were sleeping, the No.1 let rip, shouting at anyone and everyone inside the penalty area.
The message was heard loud and clear by the rest of the team, who tightened up almost immediately and put in an expert defensive performance to record a clean sheet. The angry Alisson was barely needed after that.
No (beach) ball games
A Liverpool trip to Sunderland was the fixture for one of the most bizarre goals of the 21st century and the home fans couldn't resist a nod to the infamous 'beach ball' incident of 2009.
It was Rafa Benitez's side who were beaten 1-0 at the Stadium of Light when Darren Bent's strike struck an inflatable on its way to goal to wrong-foot goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
"Even now, when I see replays of it on television, I cannot believe that it happened - even though I can't help laughing at the stupid, funny face I pulled after the ball went in," Reina once reflected.
"I have been asked so many times why I didn't just kick the beach-ball off the pitch as soon as it was thrown on, but I only realised it was right in front of me when Andy Reid crossed the proper football into the box and there it was.
"Even after spotting it, I didn't think it was about to play a part in one of the craziest goals in English football history."
It was a farcical incident but the goal stood and Sunderland won the game on the day. Some 17 years later, the hosts launched another beach ball towards the pitch only to see it drop by Alisson's left-hand post.
The goalkeeper eventually moved the foreign object away from his goal to ensure there would be no shock repeat of a truly surreal way to lose a Premier League game. Not this time, Mackems....
WATARUUUUU
The sight of Wataru Endo being taken off on a stretcher was a tough one to take for Arne Slot and the Reds fans, for whom he has been a cult hero for some time now.
The Japan midfielder was deployed at right-back to help ease a crisis on that side of the defence and didn't put a foot wrong all night, winning all seven of his duels.
However, the serious foot injury he picked up in the second half was cruel and brought an end to his night prematurely and potentially his season now as well with Slot admitting it was a serious one after the game.
The away end paid tribute to Endo as he left the pitch in heart-breaking circumstances having initially tried to play on with what was clearly a serious problem.
The Liverpool fans were in full voice for Endo as he left the pitch, making sure he felt their support as he went down the tunnel. It was a heartwarming incident but the club are now sweating on the latest.