Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Sunderland as Florian Wirtz good but one anonymous

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool avoided falling to a third successive defeat at Anfield with Chemsdine Talbi's opener canceled out by an own-goal caused by Florian Wirtz.

After a goalless first half, Mohamed Salah was turned to and he threatened to add some extra attacking quality into the contest for a short time. But it was Sunderland forward Talbi who netted first when Virgil van Dijk had given possession away incredibly cheaply.

Wirtz twisted and turned his way past a few players before his shot was squeezed over the line to level things up. But too many Liverpool players didn't offer enough quality in the final third to make the difference.

Winners

It was certainly not the cleanest strike that Wirtz will ever take for Liverpool, and it has, in the end, gone down as an own-goal, but it was an important finish to earn a point. It deflected into the net at the Kop End at a vital time and ensured that Liverpool didn't lose again on home soil.

He was a bright spark in the first half and then went quieter in the second, only to pop up with a vital goal when his team needed it. More of that is a must in the coming weeks as he attempts to show why Liverpool spent so much on him.

Losers

Once again, Liverpool looked more functional and tidy with Mohamed Salah sitting on the bench. It leaves Arne Slot with a fascinating dilemma ahead of the weekend's trip to Leeds United.

Salah was left on the sidelines on Sunday, but was sent on at half-time here. For a few minutes, he threatened to prove decisive and looked dangerous, but that ended up tailing off.

With and without him was split 50:50 here and Liverpool didn't get the result it wanted. It didn't really offer a clear answer on whether bringing him back into the starting XI or not is for the best either.

Alexander Isak, meanwhile, wasn't hugely involved but his performance wasn't that different to when he was on against West Ham, aside from the crucial finish that opened the scoring there.

He didn't do much, but he will have benefited from the extra minutes that he got under his belt. In that sense, at least, it was another step in the right direction after his deadline day move from Newcastle United.

Player ratings

Alisson Becker (6). Did well to tip a dropping ball over the bar just before half-time and had gotten a little fortunate before that with a shot that he just about touched onto the post. A lot more involved than at West Ham.

Joe Gomez (6). Starting at right-back again after impressing, relative to the circumstances, at West Ham on Sunday, the 28-year-old put in a similar performance: solid, but unspectacular going forward. Understandably, he tired a little here, though, and was booked for a really late tackle when he just couldn't keep pace with Reinildo.

Ibrahima Konate (6). Fortunate not to get booked for pulling Brian Brobbey back around 16 minutes in. It appeared to be a Sunderland tactic to go down his side of the Liverpool defense. Brobbey got the wrong side of him in the second half too, but he just about recovered.

Virgil van Dijk (6). Did well to win a few headers when crosses came in, but the main attacking threat from Sunderland was coming down the opposite side to the Dutchman, very deliberately. Gifted possession away for the opening goal, which deflected in off him.

Andy Robertson (6). In for Milos Kerkez, who came off with cramp at the weekend, he was a similarly solid option to Gomez, which is no bad thing. Didn't get forward much but was fine at the back. Did well to intercept a couple of passes when he was on his toes at the right moment.

Ryan Gravenberch (6). Spun away from his man a couple of times in trademark style, only to be brought down by a Sunderland player. He's still finding his best form but this was another step in the right direction.

Alexis Mac Allister (6). Keen to get stuck in early on in the game when he picked up a knock, but this was the best he has played in a while. Put in a strong and determined tackle a few times and was aggressive on and off the ball. Not perfect, but much better.

Dominik Szoboszlai (6). Deployed on the right again to start with, the former RB Leipzig ace was coming inside, as you would expect for someone so used to playing centrally. Tested Robin Roefs with a shot from range and was involved more than most.

Florian Wirtz (7). In at number 10 once more during the first half, the German was a bright spark who created a few chances and showed some glimpses of his excellent technique. Just as involved on the left wing, which allowed Salah to play with him. That feels like it might be a way forward with both in the team.

Cody Gakpo (5). Scored and assisted at the weekend, and at times looked sharp here. Slightly predictable, though, and was caught offside in a good position when he shouldn't have been. Taken off at half-time, probably for rotation and freshness reasons.

Alexander Isak (4). Fresh from netting his first Premier League goal for Liverpool, the Swede wasn't hugely involved. He was jeered by the away end every time he touched the ball, but it wasn't too often. It was a bit of an anonymous performance.

Substitutes

Mohamed Salah (6). It was a statement not to start him for a second successive game, but Arne Slot turned to his number 11 at half-time, bringing him on for Gakpo after the break. For a short time, he threatened to take the game by the scruff of the neck, but then fizzled out.

Curtis Jones (6). Brought on for the tiring Gomez, the midfielder had to slot in at full-back again. His higher level of ability on the ball was a positive, even if it was an enforced change rather than a tactic. It was his interception that led to the equalizer. Federico Chiesa also came on and stopped a goal by blocking the ball on the line.