Credit score the place it’s due – this was a uncommon evening of pleasure on the highway for Liverpool in what has been a disappointing marketing campaign up to now.
They battled nicely in opposition to an organised aspect and greater than deserved the 1-0 win.
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Sunderland raced out of the blocks however Liverpool did nicely to resist some early stress and have been by far the higher aspect for many of the first half.
They have been comfy in possession, with Florian Wirtz on the coronary heart of the whole lot, and maybe the one criticism might be their failure to make that dominance rely.
Ultimately, it took a set-piece for Arne Slot’s aspect to interrupt the impasse – with Liverpool’s tenth nook of the sport leading to Virgil van Dijk’s objective. The Dutchman now has extra targets (23) than another Liverpool defender within the Premier League period.
Mohamed Salah’s struggles in entrance of objective have gotten a priority, however he offered his 92nd Premier League help for Liverpool, shifting him stage with Steven Gerrard for his or her most within the competitors.
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The actual fact Sunderland not often threatened can also be testomony to Liverpool’s defence, which noticed two adjustments as Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson got here in for Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez.
are the one different aspect to have stored a clear sheet at Sunderland this season (a 0-0 attract January).
Liverpool haven’t carried out like reigning champions usually sufficient this time period, however on this moist evening within the north east they turned up and delivered a show befitting of that standing.