![\"Arne](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/0_Britain-Premier-League-Soccer-25337804264622.jpg\")
Arne Slot’s Liverpool dropped more points against Sunderland(Image: AP)<\/p>\nReigning Premier League champions Liverpool sit eighth in the table and 11 points off top spot after dropping yet more points at home to Sunderland on Wednesday nightArne Slot’s Liverpool dropped more points against Sunderland(Image: AP)<\/p>\n
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher<\/a> pulled no punches with his assessment of the Reds’ performance against Sunderland<\/a>. Chemsdine Talbi’s deflected strike left the Anfield club at risk of a seventh league defeat in 14 games, though they rescued a point through a Nordi Mukiele own goal<\/a>.<\/p>\n Last season’s Premier League<\/a> champions have already lost more matches than they did in the entirety of the 2024\/25 campaign. They were also eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Crystal Palace<\/a> after Arne Slot<\/a> heavily rotated his side, while a 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven leaves them 13th in the league phase standings of the Champions League<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Liverpool<\/a> have been awful. Sunderland have been so much sharper,” Carragher said during Sky Sports’<\/a> coverage of Wednesday night’s game at Anfield.<\/p>\n Reflecting on Sunderland’s opener, he called out captain Virgil van Dijk by name after the defender’s deflection took the ball beyond goalkeeper Alisson, saying: “Virgil van Dijk turns his back. That goal sums up Liverpool in this game.”<\/p>\n Liverpool stopped the rot on Sunday with a win at West Ham<\/a>, but haven’t earned successive league wins since September. “The performance was really, really worrying. It feels like a step back,” Carragher argued. “They didn’t look like scoring. They were lacking zip, energy, pace and power. It’s really worrying.”<\/p>\n READ MORE: Two Liverpool stars have admitted they’re unhappy with Arne Slot after ‘argument’ and snub<\/a>READ MORE: Sunderland players left ‘surprised’ by what Arne Slot did during Liverpool clash<\/a><\/p>\n Carragher had called for a response from Liverpool after a poor first half, but the flat performance continued. Indeed, the Reds could have lost even after drawing level, only for Federico Chiesa to race back to clear a Wilson Isidor effort off the line.<\/p>\n “They are sleepwalking through the game, everything feels so slow,” he said at the break. “Liverpool need to get organised for the second half, there’s far too much space all over the pitch.”<\/p>\n Liverpool boss Slot tried to take the positives as he prepares for his team to take on Leeds this weekend. “Far too many times this season we don’t concede a lot of chances but the ones that we do go in,” he told Match of the Day.<\/p>\n “We weren’t lucky enough to get the win over the line but in recent weeks we would have lost this game so that is a positive. We are already 14 games in now and we haven’t been able to score enough from open play or from set-pieces.”<\/p>\n Slot was also asked about Mohamed Salah<\/a> afer naming the forward on the bench for a second straight game. Salah got 45 minutes against Sunderland after not featuring at West Ham, but couldn’t find a breakthrough.<\/p>\n “It has nothing to do with Mo or anyone,” he told Sky Sports<\/a>. “I have not given a thought to how we will play at the weekend against Leeds. I have an idea who will start but I won’t say.”<\/p>\n Join our new WhatsApp community <\/a>and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package<\/p>\n This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/a> \u00a343<\/p>\n \u00a335<\/p>\n Sky<\/p>\n![\"Virgil](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1764852439_716_0_Liverpool-v-Sunderland-Premier-League.jpg\")
Virgil van Dijk was criticised by Carragher(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Content](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1745740390_979_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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