Wirtz trickery forces deflection to rescue toiling Liverpool

Liverpool’s big name, big money summer signings owed Arne Slot following poor starts to life at Anfield and, right on cue, Florian Wirtz delivered.

- Andy Hunter

A deflected shot from the potential £116m recruit spared the Premier League champions the ignominy of a 10th defeat in 14 games with a late equaliser against Sunderland, who will count this as an opportunity missed.

Chemsdine Talbi had set the inform visitors on course for a first win at Anfield since 1983 before Wirtz levelled in style in the 81st minute. Sunderland substitute Wilson Isidor was close to restoring his side’s lead when rounding Alisson in stoppage time but a superb goalline clearance from striker Federico Chiesa salvaged a point for Liverpool.

Mohamed Salah stood alone briefly during the warm-up casting envious glances at the ten outfield starters being put through their paces on the opposite side of the pitch. He was not among them, again. For the first time in his phenomenal Liverpool career the Egypt international was consigned to the substitutes’ bench for a second successive game.