Talbi’s strike extends Sunderland joy, Liverpool misery

Chemsdine Talbi’s second half strike handed Sunderland a top-6 spot and a rare point at Anfield with a 1-1 result against Liverpool on Wednesday in the English Premier League.

The Morocco international fired in from distance to continue his club’s sensational first half of the campaign following their return from the second tier EFL Championship. The Black Cats were denied a first victory at Anfield since 1983 by an own goal but it is the first time Sunderland claimed a point at the venue since 2016.

It was yet another unconvincing effort from the hosts, who narrowly avoided losing three consecutive home league matches, something that has not happened since 2017. The Reds controlled play in the first half but failed to produce much in the final third.

Even after disgruntled star Mohamed Salah came on at halftime, there was little to excite the Anfield faithful. The hosts’ indecisive performance set the stage for a big moment and Talbi provided it in the 67th minute, finishing from distance after receiving a pass from Enzo Le Fee.

But the goal finally woke up the hosts and it was big money signing Wirtz who leveled the match in the 81st minute with a scuffed shot that took a major deflection off defender Nordi Mukiele. The visitors had a golden opportunity to win it late but after Wilson Isidor was sent in on goal, the substitute went around goalkeeper Alisson and had his effort cleared off the line by Federico Chiesa.

Talbi, a member of the newly-promoted club’s big spending spree during preparations for their Premier League return, now has two timely goals to his account this season. The 20-year-old acquisition from Club Brugge also came on as a substitute to score the winner in his club’s 2-1 victory at Chelsea in late October, giving him two goals and an assist from fourteen matches in the ongoing campaign.

Sunderland are now in 6th position, remaining a point ahead of Wednesday’s struggling opponents on the Premier League table. However, with a large contingent of African internationals, the club could be without as many as seven of its stars including the Moroccan during December and January when the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations begins in Morocco on December 21.