Sunderland’s long unbeaten home run came to an end against a strong Liverpool side
It was a night that ended with two proud Sunderland records coming to an end.
Liverpool ended their unbeaten home record in the league this season, the last Premier League club standing. And the equally impressive feat of this side having won every league game that followed a defeat also ended, the Black Cats suffering back-to-back losses for the first time.
Though the winning goal came from a set piece and was headed over the line by a Sunderland player in Habib Diarra, it was hard not to argue it was a deserved win for the visitors. Sunderland flickered in moments but Alisson was largely untested, and Liverpool could have scored more had they been a little more clinical at key stages in both halves. Reality has perhaps bitten just a touch for the Black Cats, they have been outplayed by two very impressive sides in recent days.
Did their performance leave a little to be desired here? Perhaps, but it was clearly the case that Liverpool have improved significantly from the early stages of the season and their passing at times was too good for Sunderland.
Sunderland started on the front foot and with an aggressive press, the Stadium of Light roaring as their team pushed up the pitch. There were brief moments of promise but equally, it was clear right from the off that this was a very different Liverpool side to the one that had so laboured in the reverse fixture at Anfield.
Their passing was crisp and they found a way through Sunderland's press, with Florian Wirtz picking up promising positions from the off. It was a promising start for the hosts nevertheless and they had the best early chance when Mukiele ran onto a pass and his first-time cross drew a volley from Brobbey that was very well blocked. Midway through the half, Sunderland would have been content that though they hadn't threatened the Liverpool goal too much, the visitors were yet to register a shot on target. They were improving, though, and Sunderland were fortunate to survive a ten-minute spell in which Arne Slot's side dominated. The home crowd grew frustrated that Sunderland's high press had evaporated, but the issue was that when the hosts jumped out the visitors were playing through them with ease. It led to the best effort of the game on the half hour mark when a nice move saw the ball moved infield to Wirtz in space, his long-range effort saved very well by Robin Roefs low to his right. From the following corner, Van Dijk made first contact at the near post but nodded over the bar. Just minutes later Wirtz then cracked the far post after again finding space in the box, driving an effort through the legs of Noah Sadiki and past Roefs onto the woodwork.
It was clear at this stage that Sunderland's unbeaten home record was under threat from a good side, though they felt that they had a strong claim for a penalty when Brobbey and Konate tussled in the box just before the break. There had been other moments of promise, too, with Diarra just unable to read a Le Fee pass inside the box and with Angulo drawing a comfortable save from Alisson from range.
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Sunderland started the second half brightly and with intent even if Liverpool continued to threaten, Angulo threatening down the left on occasion and Hume flashing a decent effort just over the bar from around 25 yards. The Black Cats had to defend well at times with Ballard blocking well from Wirtz, but it had been a good and open start to the second half.
Sunderland threatened again when Mukiele drove infield and fired one just wide of the nar post, but the hosts were soon behind as the near-post corners which had caused them such trouble throughout the game proved their undoing. Roefs came to try and meet the delivery but couldn’t get there, Van Dijk making first contact and heading the ball towards the line where Diarra could only nod into the roof of his own net.
To their credit Sunderland did not go under, and though Liverpool threatened on the break with some dangerous play the hosts were still firmly into the contest heading into its final quarter. Though Alisson had not been forced into many saves there were good moments for Sunderland, Hume seeing an effort blocked at close range and Mukiele firing wide after showing good footwork inside the box. With ten to play Le Bris’s side were given a big let off as he prepared to make a triple substitution, Ekitike heading wide from inside the box after a cross from Robertson.
Sunderland saw a lot of the ball in the final stages but could do little of note with it, Liverpool arguably enjoying the better of the chances on the break. Sunderland’s unbeaten run ended on a night of frustration, and was lost to a strong opposition performance.
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