By Michael Odegbe
Liverpool’s title defense is entering dangerous territory, and even Anfield can no longer defend them.
Premier League champions Liverpool were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by a fearless Sunderland side on Wednesday night, continuing a worrying run that has seen the Reds winless in their last three home matches.
Manager Arne Slot admitted what many fans have been whispering for weeks: Liverpool no longer scares anyone.
“The teams that play us now think they can get a good result,” Slot said after the match. “We’ve fueled the confidence of other teams.”
Sunderland silences Anfield
The visitors, who haven’t won at Anfield since 1983, stunned the crowd when Chemsdine Talbi’s powerfully deflected shot beat Alisson to give Sunderland a surprising lead.
Liverpool’s response lacked the intensity and ruthlessness the club once embodied. Their equalizer came not through brilliance, but through sheer luck, an own goal from Nordi Mukiele, who deflected Florian Wirtz’s shot past his own goalkeeper.
Even then, Sunderland almost secured all three points.
Wilson Isidor burst through the Liverpool defense in stoppage time and slotted past Alisson, but Federico Chiesa made a dramatic save just short of the goal line, saving Liverpool from utter humiliation.
Champions in Crisis?
After winning their first five league matches, Liverpool have managed just two wins in their last nine, thwarting their early-season winning streak.
The star signings of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak – each costing over £100 million – have yet to justify their hefty price tags. Mohamed Salah, who was on the bench for the second consecutive match, came on after halftime but had little impact on Sunderland’s disciplined defense.
Slot admitted the performance was dull and unconvincing.
“It was a game where we didn’t concede many goals or create many chances,” he said. “We’re unlucky with the goal we conceded, in the period we’re in, it went in.”
What’s next for Liverpool?
With confidence dwindling, play faltering, and opponents increasingly aggressive, Liverpool must regain their lead quickly or risk seeing their title defense collapse long before spring.
For now, the fear factor that once defined Anfield has evaporated. And the league has noticed.
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