Liverpool were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night. The match was filled with near misses and controversial moments, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Wirtz's Impact: Goal or Own Goal?
All eyes were on Florian Wirtz, the German international, who seemed to have rescued a point for the Reds with a late equaliser. After Sunderland took the lead through a deflected shot from Chemsdine Talbi, Wirtz found space in the box and fired a left-footed shot towards goal. The ball appeared to deflect off Sunderland defender Nordi Mukiele before finding the net.
Initially, it looked like Wirtz's first Premier League goal. However, the Premier League later credited the goal as an own goal by Mukiele, sparking debate among fans and pundits alike. Did Wirtz's shot have enough direction to be counted as his goal, or was Mukiele's touch the decisive factor?
Liverpool's Struggles and Sunderland's Threat
Despite dominating possession, Liverpool struggled to break down a resilient Sunderland defence. Both teams hit the woodwork multiple times throughout the match. Wirtz himself had a golden opportunity in the first half but was denied by Sunderland's goalkeeper. Sunderland also posed a significant threat on the counter-attack, with Alisson Becker forced into several saves.
Arne Slot made only one change to the starting lineup from the weekend's win against West Ham, with Andy Robertson replacing Milos Kerkez. Liverpool's lineup included Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Konate, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Robertson, and Gravenberch. Mohamed Salah was introduced as a substitute in the second half.
What's Next for Liverpool?
The draw leaves Liverpool in eighth place in the Premier League table. They will need to improve their finishing and creativity in the final third if they want to climb higher in the standings. The focus will now shift to their next match, where they will be looking to secure a much-needed victory.