Slot content with Liverpool reaction in limp Sunderland draw
Liverpool were off colour against Sunderland, but Arne Slot praised his side for fighting back to earn a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Arne Slot was content with Liverpool's reaction to falling behind in Wednesday's 1-1 Premier League draw with Sunderland.
Chemsdine Talbi's long-range strike deflected in via Virgil van Dijk in the 67th minute as Sunderland eyed a first win at Anfield since 1983.
But Nordi Mukiele was credited with an own goal from Florian Wirtz's effort at the end of a jinking run to earn Liverpool a point with nine minutes to play.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Liverpool manager Slot said: "I think it was a bit similar as at the weekend [when Liverpool beat West Ham 2-0]. Again, we didn't concede a lot, didn't create a lot.
"Maybe we created a little more than we conceded. Today, very unlucky with the goal we conceded, a deflection that could go anywhere, at this period of time it goes in.
"But I like our reaction afterwards, we saw a team that wanted the equaliser and when we did we tried everything to find the winner."
Liverpool have failed to win three successive games at Anfield in all competitions for the first time since a run of eight in March 2021, while they have conceded the opening goal in seven of their last nine Premier League games (W2 D1 L6), as many times as in their previous 26 matches in the competition (W17 D6 L3).
It could have been worse, though, with Federico Chiesa needing to make a goal-line clearance when Wilson Isidor broke clear deep into injury time.
Slot said of that moment: "I think that's what you want a team or a player to give in that situation, to give everything.
"Even in a situation where you think you cannot do a lot anymore, just keep running, that's what he did and why he cleared the ball off the line."
Slot was unaware that Wirtz's shot had ultimately gone down as an own goal, but he felt it was reward for fashioning an opportunity closer to goal.
"That is unlucky as well, but there is maybe a difference between hitting a shot from 11/12 yards than hitting one from 20 yards, because it was a chance," Slot said.
"He may have been lucky with the way it went in, but it was a good chance for him to score."
Wirtz has consequently still yet to get on the scoresheet for Liverpool at a time when his form has come under heavy scrutiny since joining in a big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen.
But the Germany international is happy with life at Anfield and is sure Liverpool can start to see more consistency in their form after their draw with Sunderland left them eighth in the table.
"I was very welcomed by the team. It is a very good team, and I am very happy to be here," he said.
"We are on a good way to come back and we are doing everything to come back and win games.
"We wanted the win today, we want to be on top of the table, and we just have to keep working hard and hopefully things will change."
