Ian Doyle with the talking points from Liverpool's Premier League clash at Sunderland on Wednesday evening
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 11: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate hugs Alisson Becker after the 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)
Ibrahima Konate hugs Alisson Becker after the 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’s right-back curse continues. With Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley injured and Joe Gomez fit enough only to return for bench duty, Dominik Szoboszlai’s daft dismissal at the weekend meant it was the turn of Wataru Endo to step into the breach.
Having done likewise to decent effect when pressed into early service against Qarabag a fortnight ago, Endo, in the week of his 33rd birthday, wasn’t coming in entirely cold.
Nevertheless, this was only the Japan international’s second top-flight start under Arne Slot, with the other coming in midfield at Chelsea last May after the title had already been won.
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Up against Nilson Angulo, the recent Sunderland signing making a first start for his new club, Endo soon warmed to his task and revelled in the physicality while increasingly offering himself as an outlet going forward.
But it was when making a vital touch to stop the Sunderland winger converting at the far post in the second half that he suffered an injury that eventually led to him leaving on a stretcher.
Initial suggestions Endo now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines cast an unwelcome shadow on an otherwise encouraging evening.
All the while, Lutsharel Geertruida, the player Liverpool failed to recruit earlier this month as a temporary solution to their defensive ills, sat on the Sunderland bench until the closing moments.
Given what has befallen the Reds’ right-backs this season, he’d be forgiven for being relieved the transfer wasn’t realised.
Alisson and Konate step up
This was a landmark 250th Premier League appearance for Alisson Becker. But the goalkeeper undoubtedly had another reason to mark the occasion.
An at times nervy performance against Manchester City on Sunday culminated with a headlong rush from his line to bring down Matheus Nunes and gift Erling Haaland the opportunity to consign the Reds to undeserved defeat.
Alisson has saved his team sufficiently throughout his Anfield career that the occasional uncharacteristic error can be forgiven.
And here he had preciously little to do during a dominant first half from the visitors in which they kept Sunderland at arm’s length.
Even when the Black Cats sought to step up the pressure in the second half, Alisson was only called upon to deal with long balls thanks to the displays of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in front of him.
Konate in particular was outstanding, coping with the power of Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey and defending on the front foot, which contributed to only Liverpool's eighth Premier League clean sheet of the season.
And having rediscovered his form in recent months, it serves only to increase the intrigue over his future with a new contract having still not been agreed.
Slot sidesteps unwanted first
So Slot avoids another unwanted record. This victory meant the Reds avoided the ignominy of having only secured one win against promoted teams in a Premier League season.
The dropped points in draws against Burnley, Leeds United and in the reverse fixture with Sunderland in December could well prove the difference when the final analysis is delivered on Liverpool's scrap for Champions League qualification.
But this was the kind of triumph that can set the tone for the remainder of the season. Indeed, the Reds can expect more of the same in their next Premier League assignment at struggling Nottingham Forest, who last night sacked Sean Dyche, on Sunday week.
A curious aspect about the game was that it became only the fourth match in Premier League history to see no English players in either starting line-up.
And it was also the first away top-flight win Liverpool have achieved this season without the opponents having a player sent off after Newcastle United, Burnley, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur were all reduced to 10 men.
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