The celebration was justified yet indicative of another worrying night for Arne Slot. It was the 94th minute and Federico Chiesa was waving his arms in front of Liverpool fans, rejoicing not in delivering a victory befitting his job as a striker but in saving the Premier League champions from certain defeat. Sunderland should consider their point at Anfield as an opportunity missed.
Chiesa’s celebration followed his goalline clearance to deny Sunderland a first win at Anfield since October 1983. Slot, though restrained in his technical area, must have been tempted to join in. His team were staring at a 10th defeat in 14 games when Wilson Isidor, on as a Sunderland substitute, raced through from goalkeeper Robin Roefs’s smart pass and rounded Alisson in the Liverpool goal. Chiesa, on as a substitute as Slot chased victory, had abandoned his attacking instincts to track back and produced a vital block. Liverpool were spared another inquest, just about.
