Overview
- High-flying Sunderland held Liverpool 1-1 at Anfield as Chemsdine Talbi scored before a Nordi Mukiele own goal off Florian Wirtz’s shot, leaving the titleholders eighth and 11 points behind Arsenal after 14 matches.
- Arne Slot conceded opponents now believe they can get results against Liverpool, admitting the team has lost its fear factor.
- Virgil van Dijk came under renewed fire, with his role in Sunderland’s opener and a recent PSV handball penalty cited as signs of a faltering back line.
- Big-money recruits Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are yet to ignite, with Isak ineffective against Sunderland and Wirtz’s apparent first goal officially credited as an own goal.
- Selection tensions grew as Mohamed Salah was benched for a second straight league game and, by Slot’s account, expressed disappointment, while separate reports noted Federico Chiesa’s earlier frustration over Champions League exclusion ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds.