Pressure mounts on Slot as limp Liverpool held to draw with Sunderland

0:07Thanks for joining us on the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. there were six games live on Sky Sports on Wednesday evening with plenty at stake at both ends of the table. Here's how we saw things at the end of the night.

0:26Clipped in. Jones is in there. Alderete. Well, that's not the best header in the world of this state. And again, they're going to take out the turn. And that should be that. It is that. a point apiece, but Sunderland close to so much more. Wilson Isidore with a fabulous opportunity right at the end to win it for Sunderland. They had taken the lead in the game, Tauby's deflected effort.

0:56But Liverpool with an equaliser, Florian Wirtz, his shot deflecting in off Mukieli, who has been awarded the goal. Unfortunately, Mertz looking for his first Premier League goal. Jamie, really a word on both sides' performances tonight. Sunderland, fantastic. What an addition they've been to the Premier League. I mean, what would they be now? 10 or 12 points away from guaranteed safety. Ballard, fantastic, how long have they been at the back? But Liverpool, it's not even the draw, it's the performance. Really, really worrying. it feels like a real step back that tonight in terms of what you saw at West Ham from the weekend didn't look like scoring a goal really at any stage through the game can't remember any real big chances yeah and again just lacking energy, pace, power yeah yeah really worrying up to me for Liverpool's power as back-to-back wins But for Sunderland, another impressive point on the road, another impressive performance from a side who seems set for safety in the Premier League, calling it that early because they're a side that showed once again that they can mix it with the top sides in the Premier League.

2:22Final score at Anfield, Liverpool 1, Sunderland 1. And what a performance yet again from the new boys, Sunderland, who showed no fear, showed real bravery. Great leadership again from Granit Xhaka. The defence stood strong when Liverpool were pushing for that victory at the end. And they might well have taken all three points. And Kevin Phillips was probably roaring Wilson Isidore on in those closing seconds when he went one-on-one but just couldn't find the winning goal. So Talby's name is written in folklore. Isidore might have been as the first to score the winner there since 1983, but it wasn't to be.

3:10Still, Jamie, sum up what you've seen from Sunderland tonight. Yeah, fantastic. I think it's a great example of if you get the recruitment right, eight new signings from last season. And talk about adaptation and how you get used to the Premier League. There's no problem for this Sunderland side. obviously they've got a couple of experienced players that have been here before like that man in front of you granite jack who just epitomized everything about the organization even now like he's your he's like your manager on the pitch he's so important seems that the conversation is ongoing right and the respect that all the players will have for him will be immense you know because they know what he's achieved and they've got real pace and they could have won it at the end you know he's the door that's what i was talking about it well of course he won't sleep tonight i'll be thinking about that you know the fact that he's even smiling i'm amazed he probably can't believe what an opportunity did everything right well you said eight new players in that starting 11 tonight wilson isidor one of those who played last season came off the bench and and sun and fans remember him of course the goals that took him uh took them to the uh the premier league in the first instance with key goals in playoff games but they rattled liverpool right from the off yeah it was a very even game to be fair i think the first half performance from Liverpool was surprising you know it was a much more of a an open game in the first half the second half Liverpool sort of gave a better effort but Sunderland were magnificent tonight all around the pitch working their socks off for each other defensively they were very good they caused problems in the attack as well all around the manager got it right tactically from from the Sunderland side yeah another really important point for Sunderland at one of the iconic Premier league venues and luco nine with a huge smile as well his first taste of premier league football from bench in those closing moments we will talk more about sonland and of course liverpool what we made of them before the night is done here it has been a dramatic night elsewhere arsenal professional as ever this season two nil victory they could afford to leave bukayo saka on the bench tonight but he still wanted to have his say on the game and he that was a goal came off the bench to score their second in a 2-0 win over Brentford.

5:22What a fight back from Aston Villa at Brighton. They were 2-0 down and came back to win it by four goals to three and two of them scored by Oli Watkins, restored to the starting line-up with his first goals in 12 appearances for Villa. Great game that was down at the Amex. Just one settled the affair at Turf Moor tonight and it's another defeat for Burnley, fifth on the bounce. Palace back to winning ways thanks to that brilliant header from Daniel Munoz, the only goal of the game. Palace climbing tonight, so too Nottingham Forest. Wolves beaten again, it's three defeats out of three for Rob Edwards, Igor Jesus had one ruled out earlier in the game, but that header counted, he's off the mark in the Premier League for Nottingham Forest.

6:15And how about this from Ellen Road and how about this from Alton Aka? What a strike. 3-1 victory for Leeds United over Chelsea tonight. And how Daniel Farker needed that as well. Dominic Calvert-Lewin on the score sheet too for Leeds on a really important night for them. Scan that QR code. You'll be able to see all the goals from tonight's games right now on the Sky Sports app. As Arsenal beat Brentford by two goals to nil. Villa made it eight wins out of nine with a 4-3 victory at Brighton. Palace winning 1-0 at Turf Moor. Forest winning 1-0 at Molyneux, who's still without a victory this season.

6:53It's the joint worst start by any Premier League side. Leeds 3-1 winners over Chelsea, and it finished one apiece at Anfield between Liverpool and Sunderland. So they are still rooted, just two points, Wolves. Burnley beaten again on 10. And then come West Ham, who've slipped in there tonight because Leeds United have climbed out of the bottom three with that victory. 14 points on the board from 14. Forest looking more comfortable now. A four-point gap on the bottom three.

7:28Elsewhere, Liverpool in eighth place still. Sunderland stay in sixth. Palace up to fifth. Villa up to third. Then it's City and Arsenal. restoring their five-point advantage at the top.

7:52What a crazy year we're having in the NFL. Big sides are struggling and some surprise teams look like they could be the real deal. I'm Neil Reynolds, the host of Sky Sports NFL podcast Inside the Huddle. To see how the second half of the season pans out, join us every monday and thursday when we analyze and preview all the big games from around the league and discuss all the big talking points just search for inside the huddle wherever you get your podcasts and give us a follow welcome back to the sky sports premier league podcast let's get back to the studio for more reaction to today's game not the victory that liverpool wanted or indeed their fans might have expected but how they needed that equalising goal which came thanks to the combination of Curtis Jones and Florian Wurtz both of whom are with Juliet Farrington.

8:47Curtis Flo I think it's one of those nights again when luck isn't on your side I'm looking at you Curtis because you thought you had the assist it was an own goal. Yeah doesn't matter today we draw wanted to win so yeah that's all what what counts today, so yeah, unlucky. What do you make of the performance? Because you were calling for more aggression after the defeat to PSV and Flo, you showed that aggression with the goal that ultimately was an own goal, but was it a better performance, do you feel? I think so, yeah. And I feel that that has been the main point of the whole team and the staff as well that we've spoke about as one.

9:31Obviously, you know, we've got the guys in the team that can play, that can score, that can assist. But we've just asked for more aggressiveness. And I think, yeah, we showed that there. And as you said there with Flau, a guy who, you know, he wants the ball a lot. But of how much that he ran and he tackled and stuff. Yeah, just a shame that his goal is done and his non-goal. It was better second half, though, wasn't it? It was slow in the first half. Yeah, but at times it has to be slow. We're playing against a team who sat back and we thought they were going to press more. But the more that we pass around, it drags them out and makes gaps.

10:19That's the likes of myself, Flo and Domino. If we can get the ball in there, then we can score or assist. and showed there at the end. He was shooting more and gaps were all there. But, yeah, as I said, it's one of them nights again. It's just the last, I don't know, small, small bit. And Flo, as a player coming into this team, when Curtis say it's just the small things that are causing probably the biggest problems, how would you assess the season so far for you at Liverpool? Yeah, first of all, I was very welcomed by the team. One of the main reasons, also Curtis, but yeah, it's a very good team and I'm very happy to be here.

11:07Of course, it was now the last weeks were a bit difficult for us as a team, but we are on a good way to come back and we are doing everything to come back and win games. and that's just it isn't it the win at the weekend and then the point tonight so it's still unbeaten you've got this mini run that you're on yeah of course we wanted to win today we want to be on top of the table and yeah we just have to continue keep the hard work and continue like this and then hopefully things will change thanks for your time thank you guys thank you yeah they're Not quite out of the woods yet, are they, Liverpool?

11:49And it might have been a lot worse tonight had Chiesa not managed to keep the Isidore effort out of the net in the dying moments. We're all amazed watching it to look up and see Isidore suddenly one-on-one when Sunderland were under so much pressure in that moment. How did it happen? Liverpool were chasing the game. You can see Chiesa is the last man there. And Isidore's really bright, Daniel. He gets himself now in a one-on-one situation. Roush is a great kick. Amazing kick. And you're thinking to yourself, You've snuck away, you've got your big opportunities, goes around the goalkeeper. But you know what?

12:20Credit to Chiesa for getting back. But if you see him here, he's thinking to himself, keeper, can you do it for me? Can you do it for me? He plays it, it's a perfect ball. He's got all the time in the world. What did he get wrong, anything? And you know, I would have took that earlier based on, Ali gave him an angle. He gave him an angle to shoot earlier on, but he decides to go around him, which typically speaking, it's a safer finish if you have the ability to go around the goalkeeper. He's done everything right. Didn't anticipate Chies would be behind him doing that, but he executed everything perfectly.

12:54Could have took it earlier if he wanted to. He didn't. Executed that, but Chies' tenacity and his will to ensure that the team doesn't concede a goal was beautiful things to see, considering he's an attacker as well. So it could have been a lot worse for Liverpool. Oh, yeah. And I don't think they could have had any complaints either. They had a sad spell. 20 minutes, they chased the game, and then the enthusiasm of the cop got the crowd going. And then you feel, OK, something might happen here. Can they get that winner that we always expect, like what we call a big side can do? They can just produce a moment, like what Phil Foden did the weekend.

13:28But what you see with Liverpool, they haven't got that confidence at what, say, Manchester City have got at the moment. Everything is hard work. You're second-guessing yourself. You're making elementary mistakes. The game looks really hard. and it's quite crazy to think and to see because when you looked at Liverpool last season when they were at their best, everything seemed so simple. And we're talking about world-class players, but it actually just shows you sometimes they have the same fragility as everybody else. They're just human beings. And when your confidence goes and when you don't believe in yourself like Liverpool are at the moment, you can make vital mistakes.

14:01And that's where the goal comes from by Talby because Virgil van Dijk last year couldn't make a mistake. You know, every game, he was imperious. But right now, he's making these mistakes. He's second-guessing himself. And it was obviously credit to what Sunderland did. But it's a direct ball. They lose this first contact. How often do we see that? Then Talby wins that one. And then Virgil just panics. He tries to play that ball into McAllister. Then Talby gets it. Virgil backs off, gives him too much respect. Turns his back on it, which I don't like to see a centre-back do. But these are just the mistakes that are creeping into Liverpool's game all the time, Daniel.

14:34Yeah, it's disappointing to see. you know, they'll know we're better than that. It's one long ball. It's old school stuff. It's, you know, get it forward, win a flick on it and then pick up the pieces. And that's exactly what they've done. The execution, of course, Virgil knows he could do better than that. Virgil won't be happy with that going home. He knows he can do better than that. But in the end, it's thoroughly deserved. Sunderland worked tirelessly. Did you feel a great surprise when the goal came either, did it? No, not really at all, no. Because it was an even football match. The first half performance from Sunderland was magnificent.

15:08And then second half, I think Liverpool's structure kind of allowed them to have a little bit more control in the second half. But still, Sunderland was threatening. He doesn't get credit for the equalising goal, Florian Verts, but, well, in terms of the actual goal. But he does get loads of credit for having the ability to wind his way into that position as well. And he showed, I would say, glimpses today. And I've said it before the game, he has real quality. and we are going to see a player, but a little bit like Liverpool at the moment, it's a slow burner. You know, if you look to Alexander Isak right now, you wouldn't be going, oh, what a player he was last year.

15:42You'll be thinking, God, this is the same guy. You know, he's just not playing to the level that he can. And I think with Verts, we are seeing it. I mean, he played in a few different positions today, but the goal was obviously all about him and Curtis Jones to a certain extent because he did so well. One thing I will say is Alderete was magnificent today. The left side centre-back, even here he keeps it alive. He gets a ball, somehow squeezes it to his mate. Talby just gets a loose, baggy touch. Curtis Jones pounces on it, and then the rest is all about this man. A little bit of skill, he jinx.

16:12And then he gets, obviously, a large slice of luck, doesn't he, off Muka Lele? He does, yes. But, you know, the thing for me is, yeah, we talk about the touch here. Poor touch. Curtis Jones, a little fake he does here, gives him the space. But it's that touch for me. The first touch is the touch that gives him enough space. He executed that touch perfectly, and then he sort of slides it across. But as we see it develop anyway, you know, we're talking about a guy who will deliver goals and assists consistently. But that's the one right there. Yeah, a little chop there. It's not his goal, Daniel.

16:42But will that give him the confidence that he needs? I don't think it will give him the confidence he needs. I think he has belief in himself. And I think he knows he's a tough player. It's a case of him slowly but surely coming into his own. I think as we've seen over the last couple of weeks, we know there's a player there. they wouldn't have spent that kind of money to bring him to the football club. I played with a player who had a similar style to his in Coutinho, in somebody who you could give him the ball in any area on the football pitch and you could trust him to get on it, drop a shoulder, move left, move right.

17:12And when I actually look at Liverpool now, the manager has an issue because I think the players he has for the system he has, it's quite a strange problem, in a sense. I look at the team we had in 13-14. I think myself, we had Suarez, we had Sterling, we had Coutinho. And I look at this team and I think, are they better off playing a different system when Mo's away at AFCON? Because Ekotike and Isak with maybe a Virts behind, with the three in midfield that we're so used to seeing in Sub-Islay, Grava Birch and McAllister, that could be the solution. Right now, we're looking at a team who's trying to find, put square pegs in round holes, putting players in different positions that aren't their positions.

17:57Right now, that's the only system. If you're not going to play Mohamed Salah, it's the one system that actually does work with the players they have. The full-backs, they've signed Frimpong. They've got Bradley coming back fit. Two players you can bomb on. Your left side, you've got Kirk as you can bomb on. You've got Robertson who can bomb on. And the defence is what it is. But in the end, if I'm looking at the team, the manager typically plays 4-3-3, but today he played 4-4-2. So if you're going to change it and be bold and go, we're going to change formation, For me, I would have liked to see Ekiti, Keit and Isak play up front in the two.

18:28We can hear from him now. Here is Arna Slott with Juliet Farrington. Arna, first of all, how would you reflect on this evening and the performance? Because you were talking about the weekend, about getting the win, not so much the performance. How would you assess that performance tonight? I think a bit similar as in the weekend. A game without a lot of... Yeah, I'm looking at the goal we're conceding. A game where we didn't concede a lot, we didn't create a lot. Maybe we created a bit more than we conceded. And today, of course, we are very unlucky with the goal we've conceded. A deflection that could go anywhere, but in this period of time it goes in.

19:09But I really liked our reaction afterwards. I think you saw a team that wanted to make the equaliser, and when we did, tried everything to make the winner. We were lucky as well because they went one-on-one with Ali. And Chiesa defended superbly. Yeah, I think that's what you want a team or a player to do in a situation like this. Just give everything, even in a situation where you feel you cannot do a lot anymore, but just keep running and that's what he did and that's why he cleared the ball off the line. and yeah another time a game where we probably scored less than we could have scored and the opponent scored were quite good in in the few chances yet making a goal out of that one.

19:59It seemed very slow in the first half what do you put that down to because when you made that substitution and Mo came on in the second, a little bit more energy, a little bit more fire about the place. Yeah, but you have to take into account how the other team is playing, so they either go really aggressive and pressure is really high or, and that's the reason why it's so difficult to beat them, they are very very very compact if they go low and they are very aggressive when they press you high and there's a reason probably why we're not the only team who couldn't beat them. I think a few other very good teams had their problems with them as well.

20:39It's difficult, they don't concede a lot of goals, I think only four times they've conceded two goals for the rest, one or even less. The reason for that is that they are so compact in a low block and so aggressive in a high press. It looks indeed slow, but with so many bodies in and around the 18-yard box, it's difficult to find a free player over there. and we kept moving the ball around, crossed it in multiple times, I think. But, yeah, they have some good headers in front of goal as well. You were talking about being unlucky too, and Flo Wietz, everybody thought he'd got his first Premier League goal tonight since coming to Liverpool, but then that became an own goal.

21:22Oh, did it? OK. Now, then, of course, then that was lucky as well, but there's maybe a difference between hitting a shot from 11, 12 yards than hitting a shot from 20 yards. Because it was a chance, he might have been lucky with the way it went in, but it was a good chance for him to score. So, yeah, like I said, not a lot of chances for both teams, but I think we had a bit more and we were very unlucky the second half, because I think we did what you were hoping for, keeping them on their half, trying, trying, trying. and in one moment we conceded but we came back strong. With Mo, with him going to AFCON as well, are you planning to use more of him before he goes or is it just about finding, as we spoke about before the game, the right team for the right opponent?

22:14That's always the situation, it has nothing to do with Mo or with anyone, that's always what you try as a manager. We're now 10-15 minutes after the game so I haven't given the thought how we're going to play in the weekend. When we face Leeds, I think they had a good result today as well. So, yeah, another challenge for us. I have no clue yet who's going to start. No clue is a bit too much, but... You have an idea, but you're not going to say. Yeah, indeed. Thank you, Arne. You're welcome. Thank you. Well, that is not going to be an easy game on Saturday night for Liverpool. They go to Elland Road, Leeds beating Chelsea 3-1 this evening.

22:52And that's a really unusual set of results for a team that are the defending champions in the Premier League. That's all competitions, of course, but nine defeats in those 14. And tonight was a chance to win back-to-back league games in the Premier League for the first time since September. We've talked about what could fix this, what could change this for Liverpool. Is it going to take some time based on tonight's evidence? For sure, it's going to take some time. I mean, I don't think there's a magic fix right now to put my finger on one thing. I just think collectively, the manager at this moment in time doesn't quite know his best 11.

23:30And with that being said, players coming back and trying to find their fitness. Verts is trying to get sharp again. Isak's not completely sharp at his level. So Joey Gomez coming tonight, right back, who's not been in the squad for a while on the pitch starting game. So collectively, I think the manager is trying to figure out... Players are finding their rhythm, but the team's finding their rhythm. And many people, including the manager, is probably seeking confidence in and assurances that this is what I'm going with. This is the structure. And this is probably the first time today I've noticed that the manager has changed what he would typically do.

24:11So I think that they've got to make a decision on what the structure is, which players he wants to go with, and then roll with it. And if the results don't come, but clearly from what we've seen, the results aren't coming right now. Big call before the game as well to leave out Mo Salah for the second successive game. Halftime, the SOS send on Salah, but it didn't produce the required result, Jamie. Which way next with this one? I don't know, but I don't feel it's going to end well either way. You know, for Mohamed Salah, he'll look at it and think, I'm an elite player, there's no way I want to be sitting on the bench for Liverpool.

24:47For the manager to leave him out in a situation where you're going to lose him for possibly eight games at AFCON, so you've got to play him while you can. He's your superstar footballer, but he obviously doesn't believe that right now. And he didn't come on and make the impact that Liverpool and the fans really want. That was probably his best pass there. But it was a really difficult night for him. But I guess he's not really enjoyed sitting on that bench. That's not what Mohamed Salah is used to doing. So how this one ends up, you know, I wouldn't compare it to sort of when Alan Shearer was left out by Ruud Hullit all those years ago and it ended up being like a massive clash and one has to go in the end.

25:25I'm not sure we're quite at that point, but it does feel that something has to give because there is no way that Mohamed Salah is going to be content being a bit part player in this team. Whether it's in January or whether it's in the summer, if he finds the right clubs, because I think he deserves that right to maybe move on if things aren't going to go his way. But I can only see that outcome. I don't see really now that once that trust is broken, especially with someone like Mo, who Daniel would know a lot better than me as a human being, I just feel like he needs that confidence and love from a manager.

25:56We all talk about how mentally strong he is, but that feels like it's going to come to a head at some point, Daniel. Do you think he could leave the club in January? I'd like to think not. But you never know in football. I'd like to think not. I think he's a player that, has he been performing to the level we talk about stats, we talk about numbers, and that's what Mo's known for. Has he delivered those this season? No, he hasn't, but nobody else has either. But you also know how much self-belief this guy has. And he will be hurting, won't he, right now? Every player that is driven by, you know, goals, assists, and those are individual things, and I'm not suggesting Mo's an individual player, but he wants to be the reason why the team wins.

26:38Attackers, typically, are driven that way. It's unique when you have a striker or a winger who doesn't want to be the reason. My job is to score. My job is to assist. That is my job. I want to do that. Mo's delivered that since he's joined the football club. This is the first season where we can question him and go, oh, well, he's not doing this. Well, I'm not quite sure that Mohamed Salah's the reason why Liverpool aren't last season. He was the reason why the team won the league. and now we're quick to question because we've got Verts coming, we've got Isak coming. Guys who are young players, top-class players, going to potentially be world-class.

27:12The pair of them, there's no debate in that. I truly believe Ekitike, all the attackers that have Gap, all this and that. But a man of Mohamed Salah's quality, like, it hurts me to see... I can tell that, you know, he's not happy. And you wouldn't be because you're used to being the main man. There comes a time in every player's career where managers, owners and the player have decisions to make. I don't think this is the stage we're at with Mohamed Salah. Personally, I think the club can turn it around in terms of performances and I think Mohamed Salah can turn it around in terms of performances.