Premier League Regular Season - 26
Sunderland 0 - 1 FT Liverpool
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
24' R. Mandava
HT
V. van Dijk (M. Salah) 61'
↓ W. Endo ↑J. Gomez 69'
↓ C. Gakpo ↑C. Jones 75'
80' ↓ N. Angulo ↑C. Talbi
80' ↓ T. Hume ↑R. Mundle
80' ↓ O. Alderete ↑L. Geertruida
↓ H. Ekitike ↑F. Chiesa 88'
90'+2 ↓ H. Diarra ↑W. Isidor
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sunderland
Goalkeepers
Robin Roefs 
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
2
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Nordi Mukiele 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
24%
Pass Acc
Daniel Ballard 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Omar Alderete 
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Reinildo Mandava 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
1
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Midfielders
Noah Sadiki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Enzo Le Fée
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Trai Hume
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Habib Diarra 
NPC
92
Minutes
92
Minutes
27%
Pass Acc
6.9
Rating
Nilson Angulo
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Forwards
Brian Brobbey
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
BENCH
Melker Ellborg 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Lutsharel Geertruida
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Dennis Cirkin
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Luke O'Nien
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chris Rigg
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chemsdine Talbi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Romaine Mundle
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
17
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Wilson Isidor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
5
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Eliezer Mayenda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Liverpool
Goalkeepers
Alisson
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Wataru Endo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Ibrahima Konaté 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
89%
Duel Win %
Virgil van Dijk 
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Andrew Robertson
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
55%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Ryan Gravenberch
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alexis Mac Allister
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
97
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mohamed Salah 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.5
Rating
Florian Wirtz 
MAGNET
71
Activity
71
Activity
60
Passes
11
Duels
Cody Gakpo
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
18%
Pass Acc
Forwards
Hugo Ekitiké
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
19%
Pass Acc
6.6
Rating
BENCH
Giorgi Mamardashvili
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Joe Gomez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Miloš Kerkez
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Calvin Ramsay
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Curtis Jones
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
22
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Trey Nyoni
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kieran Morrison
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Federico Chiesa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rio Ngumoha
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/12/2025 | Liverpool | 1 - 1 | Sunderland | Premier League | Anfield |
| 02/01/2017 | Sunderland | 2 - 2 | Liverpool | Premier League | Stadium of Light |
| 26/11/2016 | Liverpool | 2 - 0 | Sunderland | Premier League | Anfield |
| 06/02/2016 | Liverpool | 2 - 2 | Sunderland | Premier League | Anfield |
| 30/12/2015 | Sunderland | 0 - 1 | Liverpool | Premier League | Stadium of Light |
| 10/01/2015 | Sunderland | 0 - 1 | Liverpool | Premier League | Stadium of Light (Sunderland) |
03/12/2025
02/01/2017
26/11/2016
06/02/2016
30/12/2015
10/01/2015
Sunderland Win
Liverpool Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 26 GD: +32
P: 26 GD: +30
P: 26 GD: +10
P: 26 GD: +10
P: 26 GD: +17
P: 26 GD: +6
P: 26 GD: +5
P: 26 GD: -1
P: 26 GD: -2
P: 26 GD: 0
P: 26 GD: -3
P: 26 GD: -5
P: 26 GD: -4
P: 26 GD: 0
P: 26 GD: -9
P: 26 GD: -1
P: 26 GD: -13
P: 26 GD: -17
P: 26 GD: -23
League Standings
P: 31 GD: +39
P: 30 GD: +32
P: 30 GD: +13
P: 30 GD: +3
P: 30 GD: +18
P: 29 GD: +9
P: 29 GD: +4
P: 30 GD: -1
P: 30 GD: 0
P: 30 GD: -2
P: 30 GD: -3
P: 30 GD: +3
P: 30 GD: -5
P: 30 GD: -2
P: 30 GD: -11
P: 29 GD: -7
P: 30 GD: -15
P: 30 GD: -19
P: 30 GD: -26
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Van Dijk Header Settles Stadium of Light Tussle
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 21/100. Liverpool's aerial superiority eventually broke Sunderland's stubborn resistance in a match defined by wastefulness and defensive grit.
Wasteful Dominance in the North East
The encounter at the Stadium of Light began with a relentless offensive rhythm that saw Liverpool camp inside the hosts' half. An Intensity rating of 2.3 reflects a barrage of 34 total shots across both sides, yet the opening period was characterized by a frustrating lack of precision. Sunderland stood firm, absorbing waves of pressure as the visitors struggled to find a clinical edge. Despite controlling possession with 57%, the Reds often found their efforts blocked by a crowded penalty area, with 13 shots smothered before they could even test the keeper. The first half felt like a tactical stalemate where the volume of attacks did not translate into genuine danger, leaving the home faithful hopeful of an upset.
The Captain Steps Up
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 61st minute, providing the game's decisive Balance shift. Following one of the 11 corners earned by the visitors, M. Salah whipped in a precise delivery that found Virgil van Dijk rising highest in the box. The Dutch captain's powerful header left the keeper with no chance, ending over an hour of resolute defending from the Black Cats. This moment justified the high Stakes score of 4.0, as Liverpool’s need for three points to sustain their European push became evident. Even as the visitors took the lead, the match remained on a knife-edge, with Sunderland refusing to capitulate despite having only two shots on target throughout the entire ninety minutes.
Seeing Out the Storm
The final stages saw Lutsharel Geertruida introduced for the hosts, providing a spark of energy that forced Liverpool into a deeper defensive shell. However, the partnership of Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté proved impenetrable. Konaté’s reading of the game was particularly impressive, snuffing out late long-ball attempts and ensuring the Upset Factor remained at 0.0. The victory moves Liverpool to 45 points, keeping them firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish, while Sunderland will rue their inability to convert their 11 shots into more meaningful chances. It was far from a classic performance, but the Reds’ ability to grind out a result through set-piece dominance and defensive discipline secured a vital win on the road.
Key Questions
What made Virgil van Dijk the Man of the Match?
Van Dijk scored the winning goal and anchored a defense that limited Sunderland to just two shots on target, earning a match-high 8.5 rating.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Elite Firepower Meets Wearside Resilience
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 62/100. A clash of individual star power against mid-table stability as Liverpool look to bridge the gap to the top five against a stubborn Sunderland side.
The Setup
As the Premier League enters Round 26, Liverpool travel to the Stadium of Light searching for the consistency that has eluded them in recent weeks. Despite a high Stars rating of 9.6, the Reds' Form has been stuttering with three draws in their last five matches. Sitting 6th in the table, they cannot afford to drop points against a Sunderland side that occupies a comfortable 11th place. The Black Cats have shown they can frustrate the league's elite, and with the Balance between the two sides closer than the odds suggest, this could easily turn into a tactical crunch match.
Key Battle
The game’s narrative will likely be written by the duel between Brian Brobbey and Florian Wirtz. Brobbey serves as the physical engine for the Sunderland attack, tasked with unsettling a Liverpool backline that has conceded 33 goals this season. Conversely, Wirtz is the creative heartbeat for the visitors, operating in the half-spaces to supply A. Isak. If the home side cannot neutralise Wirtz's movement between the lines, it will be a long night for the Wearsiders.
Our Prediction
Liverpool are expected to dictate the tempo through A. Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, pinning the hosts back for long periods. While Sunderland will look to exploit transitions through Chemsdine Talbi, the sheer individual quality in the Liverpool ranks should prove decisive. We expect a narrow but deserved 1-2 victory for the visitors, secured by a moment of magic in the final third.