“I see myself as a strong person, but what the doctor told me today about my injury brought me to tears — this is the first time in my career I’ve faced something like this” — Wataru Endo shares emotional injury update that has left fans seriously worried
Liverpool secured a hard-earned 1–0 victory away at Sunderland, handing the hosts their first home league loss of the campaign.
The visitors built their performance on control and composure, dominating possession for long periods but finding it difficult to penetrate a disciplined and energetic Sunderland side. From the outset, Liverpool appeared sharper and more assured, circulating the ball with intent and attempting to stretch the defensive lines. Sunderland, however, stayed compact and organized, restricting clear opportunities and forcing Liverpool to settle for efforts from distance and set pieces.
Florian Wirtz was Liverpool’s most inventive figure before the break. He nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful long-range strike that demanded a strong save from Robin Roefs, and later rattled the post after carving out space for a clever left-footed attempt inside the box. Despite sustained pressure, numerous corners, and dangerous free-kicks, Liverpool were unable to find the breakthrough before halftime, as Sunderland’s resilience kept the score level.
After the interval, the home side showed greater attacking intent, pushing higher up the pitch to disrupt Liverpool’s rhythm. While their ambition increased, they struggled to create meaningful chances against a well-structured Liverpool defense.
The decisive moment arrived just past the hour mark from a set piece. Mohamed Salah whipped in a threatening corner into a congested six-yard area, creating uncertainty among the defenders. Virgil van Dijk rose above the crowd to power a header goalward, and in the ensuing scramble, Habib Diarra — under pressure near the line — inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net to give Liverpool the lead.
Sunderland, trailing at home in the league for the first time this season, pressed forward in search of an equalizer. Yet Liverpool remained compact and disciplined in the closing stages, managing the tempo effectively and protecting their narrow advantage with experienced game management.
There was a setback for the visitors when Wataru Endo, who had impressed while deputizing at right-back, suffered an ankle injury late on and had to be carried off. Nevertheless, the result delivered three crucial points for Arne Slot’s side, boosting their climb up the table and narrowing the gap to fourth-placed Manchester United and fifth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.
