Liverpool closed the gap in the pursuit of Champions League qualification as they earned a 1-0 victory over Sunderland.
Virgil van Dijk’s second-half header delivered the Reds a deserved triumph and they became the first team to win at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League this season. In truth, the Reds’ triumph could have been more emphatic but they return to Merseyside with three important points to help ease the pressure on head coach Arne Slot.
Liverpool dominated the majority of the first half although Sunderland threatened in the 19th minute when a cross found its way to Brian Brobbey but Reds defender Ibrahima Konate made an outstanding block.
The visitors had to be patient and slowly started to pick the lock, with Florian Wirtz being the chief threat. On the half-hour mark, the attacking midfielder’s long-range shot was well saved by Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs. Then three minutes later, Wirtz beat Roefs with a left-footed shot from inside the area but the effort kissed the post.
To the Black Cats’ credit, they made a decent start to the second half but could not create anything clear cut. Liverpool started to get back on top, though, with Mo Salah having a shot blocked when picked out by Hugo Ekitike. But from the subsequent corner, the Reds earned the breakthrough. Salah’s stinging delivery was met by the head of Van Dijk, with Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra only able to ensure the goal-bound effort found the back of the net.
The hosts did try to find a way back into the game but it was Liverpool who looked the likelier to get the next goal. Ekitike nodded an Andy Robertson cross wide, Curtis Jones flew an effort not too far over while Salah crashed a shot just wide in stoppage-time.
It was a quintessential away performance and a win that Liverpool rightfully earned - and moved Slot’s troops within two points of fifth-place Chelsea with 12 games remaining.
Liverpool player ratings vs Sunderland
1. Alisson Becker - 7
Alertly off his line to punch clear a free-kick and made one routine save in the first half. Collected everything that came his way in the second half. | Liverpool FC via Getty Images
2. Wataru Endo - 8
Made one immense sliding tackle in the first half and won plenty. Injured himself making a huge interception at the back post and had to be stretchered off. Such a warrior. | AFP via Getty Images
3. Ibrahima Konate - 9
Made a magnificent block from a Brobbey shot in the first half and relished the physical battle. Then produced a monumental tackle on Brobbey in Liverpool's box after the break. Monstrous. | AFP via Getty Images
4. Virgil van Dijk - 8
Comfortable in the first half and had a couple of half-chances. Did everything required after the break and came up with the crucial intervention to earn three points. | AFP via Getty Images