Liverpool delivered a composed display on Wearside to hand Sunderland their first home defeat of the Premier League season, claiming a narrow but deserved success at the Stadium of Light.
The visitors controlled long spells of the contest and were rewarded shortly after the interval when their captain made the decisive contribution. A corner swung in by Mohamed Salah was met by Virgil van Dijk, whose header crossed the line despite a last-ditch touch from Habib Diarra stationed on the goal line.
Arne Slot’s side had already stamped their authority on the game before the break, enjoying 68% possession and largely dictating the tempo. Sunderland remained organised and resilient, but Liverpool’s patience eventually told.
The result marked only Liverpool’s second league win of 2026 and moved them within two points of fifth-placed Chelsea, while the hosts remain in 11th position.
Wirtz shines as Liverpool dominate possession
Liverpool’s early control was built around their ability to keep the ball and probe for openings, with Florian Wirtz central to most attacking moments.
The German came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half. His long-range effort was pushed away by goalkeeper Robin Roefs before he struck the post from inside the penalty area moments later. Wirtz then tested Roefs again with a header, forcing another save.
Despite the pressure, Sunderland reached halftime on level terms, helped by disciplined defending that limited Liverpool’s cutting edge. The hosts managed only five touches in the opposition box before the interval, underlining how little threat they carried.
After the restart, Sunderland showed more intent, with captain Trai Hume firing over the bar. However, the breakthrough soon arrived at the other end through Van Dijk’s fourth goal of the campaign, created from Liverpool’s 10th corner of the night.
Defensive strength, injury concern and historic milestones
While Liverpool celebrated a clean sheet, the evening was not without concern. Wataru Endo, making his first league start of the season and deputising at right-back due to Dominik Szoboszlai’s suspension, suffered an awkward ankle injury shortly after the opening goal.
The Japan international had been defensively reliable, winning more duels than any other player, before being stretchered off and replaced by Joe Gomez, who has only recently returned from injury. Slot later admitted the outlook was worrying, suggesting Endo could be sidelined for a significant period.
At the other end, Alisson marked his 250th Premier League appearance for Liverpool with a largely untroubled evening. Manchester City remains the only other side to have shut out Sunderland at home this season, highlighting the strength of Liverpool’s rearguard on the night.
Salah may have endured another quiet outing in front of goal, but his assist moved him level with Steven Gerrard at 92 Premier League assists for the club. Van Dijk’s strike also took him clear as Liverpool’s highest-scoring defender in the Premier League era, capping a rare but fully earned away triumph.