Not for the first time, Anfield could hail the most impressive recruitment team in the Premier League. Take a bow Sunderland.
Had they been in attendance, John W Henry and his moneyball disciples might have led the standing ovation for their well-earned point. Sunderland paid £155m for 14 new players in the last transfer window, creating a vastly improved team who have come from the Championship to the fringes of a Champions League place.
Liverpool, in contrast, paid £450m to go from champions to the most expensive work in progress since the Gaudi cathedral. They certainly have no resemblance to the side who were building the foundation of their title success this time last year.
For Arne Slot, the road to wherever this is all leading is not yet taken, the most harrowing chapter of his management career still to reach a definitive conclusion.
There were some who considered the page turned with victory at West Hamlast weekend. Another poor performance as Liverpool ground out a home draw was evidence there is still much to be written before what has become the sorry tale of the past four months concludes.
They were fortunate not to suffer a third successive home defeat, thankful that Florian Wirtz’s shot deflected off Nordi Mukiele to set up a frantic climax, and even more so to Federico Chiesa for the save of the season. The Italian dashed the length off the pitch to prevent a Wilson Isidor winner, clearing off the line.
The lingering, most pertinent question as Liverpool poured forward as full time approached is why such urgency and aggression needed 81 minutes to manifest itself?
Ponderous and meek was the theme prior to the last-ditch cavalry charge – a recurring recent theme.
The plan with the summer spending drive was to become quicker, smarter and so technically efficient opponents could be swept away.
The opposite is true. It is becoming tiresome for the Kop to see every visitor look so much more energetic and purposeful at the start of games, Liverpool giving the impression they are playing in an ultra-continental style trying to tame the tigerish Premier League. The frustration intensifies when it seems the players have it within them to move up the gears as the final whistle approaches, so many of their wins this season secured late on.
Sunderland’s mass recruitment drive proved some transitional phases are more straightforward.
They can state it now loud and proud. They will be a Premier League club next season. No mean feat given how many were predicting an immediate return to the Championship during pre-season.
Here are a side forged by Régis Le Bris who demonstrated eye-catching passing patterns in possession, and well-drilled, disciplined defence without it. They had the right to curse not leaving with more than a point, although Slot argued otherwise.
“The minimum we deserved,” he said of the draw. Not even the most blinkered Kop season-ticket holders will agree a home win would have been merited.
Chemsdine Talbi thought he was going to be the Wearside hero, his 66th-minute strike taking advantage of the latest Virgil van Dijk mistake.
For prolonged periods, Sunderland were eyeing the top four.
If Slot has anything left of his drawing board, he’ll need to give it another hammering after the flickering lights of a full recovery which ignited last Sunday were snuffed out.
Liverpool have now won just three of their past 14 fixtures. Slot evidently still has the trust of his closest and most important allies at Anfield to find solutions – it is not the Liverpool way to tolerate external impatience – but to dress this up as anything but alarming mediocrity is disingenuous.
This time, Slot’s decision to overlook Mohamed Salah in his starting XI did not yield the necessary improvement.
Salah wore a snood to ensure the cameras were unable to study his discontent on the bench during the first half. His exile did not last, summoned at half-time, but to minimal impact.
It is hard to believe there will not be ripples in the pond the more Salah is benched, however.
How soon before a Saudi delegation jet to Merseyside? A cynic will assess Slot’s omission of Salah and wonder if he was offering the sacrificial lamb for Liverpool’s early-season woes. Leaving Salah out against West Ham last weekend could be interpreted as resting him for a busy schedule. Leaving him out for successive fixtures for the first time in his Liverpool career was a major statement. The Egyptian will feel scapegoated, but whatever his grievances the manager cannot be criticised for taking affirmative action.
There is also a degree of calculation that however Salah responds will be positive for the club. Should he channel his frustration to get back to his best, the team’s productivity will vastly improve.
If he feels more bruised and holds a grudge, it cannot be ignored that while his new deal last April was celebrated for retaining him for another two years, it also gave Liverpool the insurance of preserving his value should wealthy suitors renew their interest. Salah would still command a huge fee.
No doubt the club will downplay such eventualities.
Slot had little choice but to go back to Salah at half-time. He could not inspire a win.
One step forward, 11 points back from leaders Arsenal is the current disorientated state of the Anfield nation in what is fast becoming a dismal title defence.
10:46pm
Quotes from Curtis Jones
“We have got the guys in the team that can play, score and assist. We have asked for more aggressiveness. Flo [Wirtz] ran and tackled and it is just a shame that it goes down as an own goal [for Liverpool’s equaliser that initially went down as Wirtz’s goal]. We are playing against a team that sat back a bit. It is one of those nights again.”
10:39pm
Arne Slot talking to Sky Sports
“A bit similar to the weekend. A game where we did not concede a lot of chances, but we did not create a lot. We were very unlucky with the goal we conceded as the deflection could have gone anywhere. I liked the reaction after we went behind. We were though lucky at the end when Isidor went one-on-one with Alisson. Federico Chiesa gave everything to get back and clear off the line. Another game where we scored less than we could have done. They [Sunderland] are aggressive when they press you high or very compact if they go low. That is why they are a difficult team to beat. A few other very good teams have had that problem with them. They do not concede many goals. Not a lot of chances for both teams but we had a bit more. We were very unlucky in the second half. Leeds got a good result tonight and it will be another challenge on the weekend.”
10:35pm
Post-match thoughts of Florian Wirtz
The German thought he had his first goal for Liverpool but it ended up going down as an own goal. He has been speaking after the game to Sky Sports
10:30pm
Sunderland’s next five matches
December 6: Manchester City vs Sunderland
December 14: Sunderland vs Newcastle
December 20: Brighton vs Sunderland
December 28: Sunderland vs Leeds
Januray 1: Sunderland vs Manchester City
10:29pm
Liverpool’s next five games
December 6: Leeds vs Liverpool (Premier League)
December 9: Inter Milan vs Liverpool (Champions League)
December 13: Liverpool vs Brighton (Premier League)
December 20: Tottenham vs Liverpool (Premier League)
December 27: Liverpool vs Wolves (Premier League)
10:18pm
Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports
“In some ways I think Sunderland will be disappointed with a point. Liverpool have been really worrying. Sunderland were fantastic, what an addition they have been to the Premier League. They are 10 or 12 points away from safety. But Liverpool, the performance was really, really worrying. It feels like a step back tonight to what you saw at West Ham at the weekend. They did not look like scoring. They were lacking zip, energy, pace and power. It is really worrying.”
10:18pm
Tonight’s results
Arsenal 2 Brentford 0
Brighton 3 Aston Villa 4
Burnley 0 Crystal Palace 1
Wolves 0 Nottingham Forest 1
Leeds 3 Chelsea 1
Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
10:17pm
FT stats
Possession: Liverpool 68%-32% Sunderland
Shots: 23-9
Shots on target: 4-6
Corners: 7-3
Touches in opposition box: 31-16
The statistics would suggest that Liverpool dominated the game but that does not tell the whole story. Sunderland were worthy of the point they got and Liverpool did not really play well enough to say that they deserved to win the match.
10:12pm
Full time
Ekitike has a late chance on the swivel on the edge of the box but he puts it into The Kop.
That is the final act and it finishes all square at 1-1. Sunderland were worthy of their point tonight. Liverpool meanwhile were not great.
10:10pm
90+7 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Szoboszlai’s delivery is woeful and is cleared at the front post. The ball comes back out to Szoboszlai, whose second delivery goes through everyone and behind for a goal-kick. That may be that.
10:09pm
90+6 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Into the final added minute we go. Will we see a winner?
Liverpool have a late corner in front of The Kop…
10:08pm Key moments
90+3 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Sunderland are so close to retaking the lead. Roefs, immediately after catching the ball, spots Isidor in acres of space and plays a sublime ball forward. Isidor drives through the Liverpool half and is one-on-one with Alisson. He tries to go around and gets his shot away. He must think he is going to score but Chiesa busted his gut to get back and make the clearance near his own line, saving a certain goal.
10:07pm
90+2 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Kerkez’s ball forward towards Ekitike is intercepted by Ballard but it goes behind for another Liverpool corner. Szoboszlai’s delivery is headed away but Liverpool keep it alive. The ball is clipped in and Konate flicks a header on, which is caught by Roefs…
10:03pm
90 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
There will be seven added minutes.
10:03pm
89 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Wirtz’s cross from the right is headed behind by Reinildo for a corner in front of The Kop. Most of the play now is happening deep inside the Sunderland half.
Salah’s delivery goes to the back post and there are appeals for handball but there is no handball there as it came off Alderete’s back.
It will be another Liverpool corner, which Van Dijk meets but his header hits his own teammate in Kerkez. Salah then has a shot blocked.
10:01pm
88 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
The pressure is ramping up on Sunderland now as Liverpool push for a winner.
09:59pm
86 mins: Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1
Double change for Liverpool as Chiesa and Kerkez replace Isak and Robertson.
09:54pm Key moments • Goals
GOAL! Mukiele own goal brings Liverpool level
What was I just saying? Jones won the ball high up the pitch for Liverpool and plays it into Wirtz inside the box. The German shows great footwork, going past a few defenders and then eventually shooting. His shot takes a deflection off Mukiele and goes into the back of the net. The German thought he had his first goal for Liverpool but it will in fact go down as a Mukiele own goal.
09:54pm
80 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 1
If we are being honest, Liverpool do not really look like scoring right now.
09:53pm
79 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 1
A second Sunderland change sees Geertruida replace Le Fee. Geertruida played under Arne Slot at Feyenoord.
Sunderland are just ten minutes plus stoppage time away from a famous victory at Anfield.
09:46pm
73 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 1
Mac Allister’s night is over and is replaced by Ekitike.
09:45pm
72 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 1
Mac Allister shoots from range but blazes his effort into The Kop. When you are 1-0 down at home with 20 minutes left, that is not the time to be attempting that type of shot, maybe when you are 2-0 up.
09:44pm
71 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 1
The reaction from Liverpool since going behind has been dreadful and Sunderland currently look more likely to score again than Liverpool equalising.
09:40pm Key moments • Goals
GOAL! Talbi’s deflected strike puts Sunderland ahead
The visitors take the lead. It is really poor from Liverpool as Van Dijk gives away the ball so poorly inside his own half. Talbi then takes aim from range and it deflects off Van Dijk’s backside. It spins into the far corner and the travelling Sunderland fans are sent into a state of delirium. That was terrible in a number of ways from Van Dijk. Really, really poor.
09:38pm
64 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Liverpool need to be faster with their passing in and around the Sunderland penalty area. Right now Sunderland look quite comfortable in their defensive shape; They are getting numbers back and have plenty of bodies in the box.
Arne Slot makes his second change of the night as Jones replaces Gomez.
09:35pm
62 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Sunderland make a change up top as Isidor replaces Brobbey.
09:34pm Key moments
61 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Liverpool nearly shoot themselves in the foot. Alisson gives the ball away so poorly with a loose ball out before a cross is then clipped in from the right. Brobbey is eyeing it up at the back post but Konate does well back-pedalling to head it behind for a corner.
The delivery is sent in by Le Fee to the near post, where Alderete meets it. The centre-back’s flicked header comes off the outside of the post and goes wide.
09:32pm
58 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Szoboszlai hit a couple of well-struck shots in the first half from distance but this effort from range is not as good. He was driving towards the Sunderland penalty area and lets rip but blazes his effort into The Kop.
09:31pm
57 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Liverpool have a corner out on the right in front of The Kop. Salah’s delivery finds the head of Gomez, whose header does not go towards goal. The ball ends up coming back to Salah on the right side of the box and the Egyptian strikes it well but his effort is well blocked.
09:29pm
56 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
That is really poor from Gomez. The ball is played down Sunderland’s left and it is a straight foot-race between Gomez and Reinildo. The latter gets to it first and Gomez ends up scything Reinildo down. Gomez is rightly booked for the challenge.
The TV cameras have picked out former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips is in the away end tonight.
09:27pm
54 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
More urgency at the start of the second half for Liverpool. In fairness, that would have been the case had they broken into a jog.
09:26pm
53 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Le Fee keeps going at Mac Allister and fouls him a number of times in a matter of seconds. Le Fee is booked.
09:25pm
50 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
The Anfield crowd are furious as play is stopped with Sadiqi down. It was a fair challenge from Konate and rightly so referee Stuart Attwell plays on. Then, about 20 seconds later, play is halted, much to the irritation of the home fans. Unsurprisingly, not long after play is stopped, Sadiqi is back to his feet and fine to continue.
09:18pm
Second half
We are back under way at Anfield. How quickly into the second half will Arne Slot look to bring on Mo Salah? The answer is immediately as the Egyptian is on at the break. Gakpo has come off.
Not the longest exile in the world for Salah then!
09:09pm
Tonight’s games
Arsenal 1 Brentford 0 (80’)
Brighton 2 Aston Villa 3 (75’)
Burnley 0 Crystal Palace 1 (80’)
Wolves 0 Nottingham Forest 1 (77’)
Leeds 2 Chelsea 0 HT
Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0 HT
09:07pm
HT stats
Possession: Liverpool 62%-38% Sunderland
Shots: 8-5
Shots on target: 3-3
Corners: 2-2
Touches in opposition box: 10-9
09:04pm
Time for Salah?
Sunderland have looked comfortable and Liverpool one-paced. After all the intrigue of leaving him out, Slot might have to look to Salah early in the second half.
09:02pm
Half-time
Liverpool deal with the corner and that brings the first half to an end. It remains goalless at the break at Anfield.
09:01pm
45+1 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Talbi’s first-time volley is blocked by Van Dijk but it loops into the air towards the Liverpool goal. Alisson takes no risks and tips over for a Sunderland corner right at the end of the half.
09:00pm
45 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
There will be one added minute to finish this first half.
09:00pm Key moments
43 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Szoboszlai has already hit one from range and goes for another shot from distance. He connects beautifully and the ball is wobbling, forcing Roefs to parry behind for a corner.
The delivery is flicked on at the near post but then cleared. Liverpool keep it alive and the cross is sent in from the right. Mac Allister meets it and nearly replicates his goal at that end against Real Madrid recently but it hits the post.
08:54pm
39 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Liverpool have not played well in this half but credit to Sunderland, who have acquitted themselves well so far tonight. Liverpool are slow and lethargic in possession whereas Sunderland look quite comfortable with the ball. Liverpool are making it way too easy for Sunderland right now.
08:48pm Key moments
32 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Sunderland hit the bar. Hume opts to shoot from range and he hits the shot crisply. Alisson tips it onto the bar and that was crucial from the Liverpool keeper. That all stemmed from Liverpool gifting the ball away inside their own half.
08:47pm
31 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Alderete has already one shot in this half and he has another, this time on the left side of the box. It is an acrobatic overhead kick that is hit well but it is straight at Alisson.
08:46pm
30 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Wirtz shows great footwork to get past his former Leverkusen teammate Xhaka on the left side of the box and sends the ball across but Sadiki smashes it behind for a corner, which Sunderland head away.
Liverpool keep it alive and send in another cross, this time from the right to find Gakpo beyond the far post. Gakpo heads back across goal but Sunderland are able to deal with the danger.
08:43pm
27 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Sunderland centre-back Alderete decides to shoot from range but it is straight at Alisson. That was Sunderland’s first shot on target of the night.
08:40pm
24 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Gravenberch spins Sadiki in the centre circle and is then cynically tripped up. Sadiki looks rather nervously towards the referee Stuart Attwell but escapes without a booking.
08:38pm
23 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Plenty inside Anfield thought Wirtz had given Liverpool the lead but it hits the side netting. He gets to the ball just ahead of Roefs inside the Sunderland box and gets his shot away but it is well saved by Roefs and the last touch is adjudged to have come off Wirtz.
Wirtz has spent the first 23 minutes screaming in increasing frustration for teammates to give him the ball. They still don’t trust him when he is marked in tight spaces, yet he has shown he can make things happen even when shadowed. New relationships remain a work in progress.
08:38pm
22 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Liverpool’s passing is slightly too low at the moment, which is allowing Sunderland, who are in a good shape, to move across the pitch and defend with relative ease at the moment. The hosts need to be more incisive with their passing and turn up the tempo a bit.
08:36pm
20 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
It has not been a great start from the hosts, who may be dominating the stats so far but have not really threatened the Sunderland goal. Regis Le Bris will be pretty satisfied with his side’s start to the game.
The Anfield crowd bursts into a rendition of Diogo Jota’s song in memory of the Portuguese forward.
08:27pm
12 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Liverpool have not really been at the races thus far and Sunderland have started the better side.
08:25pm
10 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Confident start from Sunderland. Liverpool unable to get Wirtz involved yet.
08:24pm
9 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Szoboszlai strikes from range and hits it well but it is straight at Roefs.
08:22pm
7 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
Le Fee gets on the end of a pass just before the Liverpool byline and tries to find Brobbey with a cross but it is gathered by Alisson. Sunderland have made a solid start to this match and Liverpool are yet to enter the final third in attack.
08:20pm
5 mins: Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0
After Van Dijk gifts possession away inside his own half with a loose pass, it results in a throw-in to Sunderland deep in the Liverpool half, which allows Mukiele to send in a long throw. Van Dijk heads the throw away but it comes back to Mukiele, who tries to put in a cross with his feet but it is a loose cross and goes behind for a goal-kick.
08:15pm
Kick-off
We are under way at Anfield.
08:11pm
Nearly ready for action
Both sides emerge from the tunnel and we are just moments away from kick-off at Anfield. Here is a reminder of how the two sides line up tonight:
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Endo, Kerkez, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Sunderland: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Talbi, Brobbey.
Substitutes: Patterson, Neil, Geertruida, Mayenda, O’Nien, Mundle, Isidor, Adingra, Traore.
08:08pm
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher on Mo Salah again being on the bench
“I think it is huge news. I expected Mo Salah to play today. Arne Slot can dress the weekend up as Liverpool have four games in 10 days, and you have to look at which games you play him in. Sunderland will play deep and make it difficult so I expected this to be the one where Salah plays. For him to be on the bench does not feel like rest or rotation, it is dropped.
“I have said this season I do not think Mo Salah should play every game, but when I said that I was thinking predominantly away games not so much at Anfield. I am surprised. Sooner or later Liverpool do have to pivot away from being the Salah team and towards being the [Florian] Wirtz and [Alexander] Isak team, and maybe we saw a glimpse of that at West Ham.”
08:05pm
This week’s round of Premier League fixtures
Tuesday:
Bournemouth 0 Everton 1
Fulham 4 Manchester City 5
Newcastle 2 Tottenham 2
Tonight:
Arsenal 1 Brentford 0 (35’)
Brighton 2 Aston Villa 0 (35’)
Burnley 0 Crystal Palace 0 (31’)
Wolves 0 Nottingham Forest 0 (35’)
Leeds vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Sunderland
Thursday:
Manchester United vs West Ham
08:00pm
Meanwhile at Elland Road
A number of games have already begun but there is another 8.15pm kick-off in addition to the one at Anfield. Leeds host Chelsea at Elland Road and you can follow the action from that match here.
07:57pm
Liverpool starting without Salah in the league since start of 2021-22
20 games
16 wins
3 draws
1 defeat
47 goals
07:54pm
Milestone for Gomez
250 Reds appearances for Joey G 💪🔴 pic.twitter.com/IQ54Fi7wLM
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 3, 2025
07:45pm
Statement from Slot?
Liverpool leaving out Salah once can be shrugged off as rotation. Twice in a row is a major statement. Arne Slot is ushering forward the club’s future right now. No doubt it will be played down by the manager post-match, but if Liverpool play well and win again this evening, Salah may have to adjust to being on the bench more regularly. It is a huge call however it is dressed up.
07:39pm
Behind the scenes with Sky and its reinvention of how football is broadcast
“I’m getting nervous now,” says Mark Chapman, smiling, upon being asked if, even with all his experience, he still gets a few butterflies just before the cameras roll. The first three matches of Sky Sports’ multi-screened ‘Super-sized Sunday’ are 40 minutes through and fixtures that prompted 16 goals last year remain without score or major incident. Half-time talking points are therefore scarce.
“That’s where we gotta earn our money,” says Jamie Carragher who, as ever, is still fizzing with ideas. Florian Wirtz, he says, has just had his best half of football since his £116m arrival at Liverpool and Carragher is already searching with Sky’s team of statisticians to explain why.
“It’s a big story; a player who has come in for that money, and it’s the first time you think: ‘Oh he looks like a real player.’ We can make something of that – get some stats, some good clips.
07:32pm
Meanwhile at the Emirates
League leaders Arsenal host Brentford in north London and that game has just kicked off. You can follow all the action from match right here.
07:27pm
Sunderland’s last five results
Sunderland 3 Bournemouth 2 (Premier League)
Fulham 1 Sunderland 0 (Premier League)
Sunderland 2 Arsenal 2 (Premier League)
Sunderland 1 Everton 1 (Premier League)
Chelsea 1 Sunderland 2 (Premier League)
07:21pm
Teams in full
Mohamed Salah remains on the Liverpool bench as Arne Slot makes just the one change from the side which beat West Ham 2-0, with Andy Robertson replacing Milos Kerkez at left-back.
Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Endo, Kerkez, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Sunderland make two changes from their win over Bournemouth. Trai Hume and Brian Brobbey come in for Bertrand Traore and Wilson Isidor.
Sunderland: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Hume, Le Fee, Talbi, Brobbey.
Substitutes: Patterson, Neil, Geertruida, Mayenda, O’Nien, Mundle, Isidor, Adingra, Traore.
07:15pm
Hosts arriving
Reds in the building 📌@Expedia | #Ad pic.twitter.com/mVtoUfCcIi
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 3, 2025
07:11pm
Liverpool’s last five results
West Ham 0 Liverpool 2 (Premier League)
Liverpool 1 PSV 4 (Champions League)
Liverpool 0 Nottingham Forest 3 (Premier League)
Manchester City 3 Liverpool 0 (Premier League)
Liverpool 1 Real Madrid 0 (Champions League)
07:06pm
Life without Mohamed Salah will be here for Liverpool sooner rather than later
Arne Slot was another defeat from staring into the abyss. He assessed his squad, mulled over his tactical options, and picked a Liverpoolstarting XI upon which to stake his reputation which did not include Mohamed Salah.
Dress it up how you wish, but if the alarming slump has been arrested – and even Slot might privately admit the jury will need more compelling evidence than a solitary win over a terrible West Ham United side – history will not underestimate the symbolism.
As Telegraph Sport columnist Jamie Carragher wrote earlier this season, the day is coming when Liverpool’s attack must evolve from the Salah era into that of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak. Given the circumstances, it may be upon the club sooner than they imagined when handing Salah a lucrative new deal at the end of last season.
07:01pm Key moments
Sunderland team
RLB's XI to take on Liverpool! 👊#LIVSUN pic.twitter.com/wJzAlKTaxZ
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) December 3, 2025
07:00pm Key moments
Liverpool team
Our starting line-up to take on Sunderland 👥🔴 #LIVSUN
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 3, 2025
06:58pm
Paying tribute to Diogo Jota
06:56pm
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06:52pm
This week’s round of Premier League fixtures
Tuesday:
Bournemouth 0 Everton 1
Fulham 4 Manchester City 5
Newcastle 2 Tottenham 2
Tonight:
Arsenal vs Brentford
Brighton vs Aston Villa
Burnley vs Crystal Palace
Wolves vs Nottingham Forest
Leeds vs Chelsea
Liverpool vs Sunderland
Thursday:
Manchester United vs West Ham
06:47pm Key moments
Match preview
Liverpool welcome Sunderland to Anfield, with both sides looking to build on victories at the weekend. Sunderland do start the game one point ahead of the hosts. Arne Slot’s side secured a much-needed win on Sunday, winning 2-0 at West Ham courtesy of goals from Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, ending a run of three straight defeats in all competitions in which they conceded ten goals. Mohamed Salah was left out of the starting XI for that win and did not come off the bench. Slot was asked in his pre-match press conference about Salah’s reaction to being left out.
“It was a normal reaction for a player who is good enough to play for us and I say that mildly as he has been so outstanding for this club and will be in the future. He was not happy he was not starting but he was not the only one. But the way he behaved was as you would expect from such a professional: he supported his teammates and handled himself really well. You cannot be a player that has to play every three days to high standard but he is so disciplined and knows what to do to stay fit. Whether he plays well, does not play well, plays or does not play, he will always be that top professional.”
Slot has confirmed that Salah will leave for Afcon on December 15 after Liverpool’s game against Brighton. Conor Bradley is closing in on a return but will not quite make tonight’s game. Jeremie Frimpong is also not quite ready whilst Giovanni Leoni is a long-term absentee.
Sunderland have made an impressive start to life back in the top flight, currently sitting in the top half of the table. They were involved in a dramatic match last weekend at home. They fell 2-0 down to Bournemouth inside the opening quarter of an hour only to come back to claim a 3-2 victory, their first win in four games.
“We worked hard to have the privilege to play this kind of game and it is a great honour to be in this position,” Regis Le Bris said. “Character, confidence, teamwork, the ability to connect with the stadium, it can shift momentum. Because we experienced this situation before, I think now we can manage it properly. I think our players, even though we have a young team, now have the good experience and they will be want to be competitive, because otherwise we will be a spectator. So Liverpool will be strong, the place is impressive, but I think we need to show the best version of Sunderland to be competitive.”
These sides have not met in top flight since January 2017, with the game ending in a 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light. Liverpool won the last meeting at Anfield in November 2016 and are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League meetings with Sunderland, who have not won on their last 18 league trips to Anfield.
Team news to follow shortly.
