In a gritty encounter at the Stadium of Light on February 11, 2026, Liverpool FC secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Sunderland AFC. A 61st-minute header from captain Virgil van Dijk was enough to earn the Reds only their second English Premier League win of the calendar year, ending the hosts’ formidable 14-match unbeaten home run in the process.
The result is a significant boost for Arne Slot’s side, who moved within three points of the Champions League places following a heartbreaking defeat to Manchester City last weekend. For Sunderland, the loss marks their first home defeat since May 2025, leaving them in 11th place in the table.
First Half: Wirtz Rattle the Woodwork
Despite the wet and windy conditions on Wearside, the first half was characterized by high intensity. Liverpool FC dominated possession, with Florian Wirtz acting as the primary creative spark. The German international came agonizingly close to opening the scoring in the 33rd minute when his swivelling low drive through a crowded box struck the base of the right post.
Sunderland remained dangerous on the break, with Brian Brobbey testing Ibrahima Konate in a physical battle. However, the Reds’ defense stood firm, and Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs produced two fine saves to keep the scores level going into the interval. By half-time, Liverpool had recorded 14 shots but struggled to find the clinical edge required to breach the “meat wall” of the Sunderland defense.
The Breakthrough: Captain’s Goal
The decisive moment arrived just after the hour mark. Mohamed Salah, who equaled Steven Gerrard’s record of 92 English Premier League assists with the delivery, swung in a precise corner from the right. Virgil van Dijk rose highest to glance the ball goalwards, and despite Habib Diarra’s efforts on the line, the ball found the back of the net.
The goal marked Van Dijk’s 23rd in the competition for Liverpool, officially moving him past Sami Hyypia as the club’s highest-scoring defender in the English Premier League era.
Defensive Resilience and Injury Concerns
Sunderland pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, with Hugo Ekitike heading narrowly wide and substitute Romaine Mundle causing problems on the flank. However, Van Dijk led the defensive effort with a game-high 14 clearances to preserve the clean sheet.
A sour note for the visitors was a nasty-looking injury to Wataru Endo. Starting at right-back due to a suspension crisis, the Japanese international fell awkwardly on his ankle in the 65th minute and had to be replaced by Joe Gomez. This adds to a growing list of defensive absentees for Arne Slot as the season enters a critical phase.
Ultimately, Liverpool’s 1.95 xG (Expected Goals) reflected their dominance, and they successfully navigated seven minutes of stoppage time to claim a vital three points on the road.
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