Liverpool stepped into another cold December night burdened by anxiety, shaken confidence, and a supporter base that had endured far too much pain at Anfield in the last two weeks. A stadium once viewed as an impenetrable fortress — a place where opponents often arrived already beaten — had suddenly become a stage for unsettling nightmares. Nottingham Forest had come and dismantled Liverpool. PSV Eindhoven followed and delivered another shocking defeat, leaving the football world wondering what had happened to the reigning champions.
It was the kind of energy that rattled the club’s core. Liverpool weren’t supposed to collapse at home like this — not under the Anfield lights, not in front of the Kop, not after £446 million had been poured into rebuilding almost every area of the squad. And certainly not under Arne Slot, who arrived with structure, confidence, and a plan to keep Liverpool among Europe’s elite.
But football doesn’t bow to transfer fees or hype. It rewards mentality, intensity, hunger, and clarity — qualities Liverpool lacked in those two disastrous games. Now, a new match stood in front of them, another chance to repair the trust between the team and their supporters. Sunderland were coming to Anfield — on paper, a match Liverpool should control. But this was not the time for ego. It was a time for humility, reset, and recovery. Slot knew it. The players knew it. And the fans desperately needed it.
Among the growing pressure, no topic was louder than Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian talisman — the club’s carrying force for seven seasons — had been benched against West Ham United. Not rested. Not injured. Simply left out. The shock grew even bigger when he didn’t come on at all. No warm-up, no minutes, no involvement. He just watched, expression unreadable.
Was Slot sending a message? Punishing him? Managing fatigue? Tactically experimenting? Every Liverpool fan page was full of theories. It hurt supporters even more because Salah had been the club’s most consistent performer for years, the player whose name thundered through Anfield louder than anyone else. Yet Slot had made a decision that stunned the football world.
Liverpool still won 2–0, looking sharper, hungrier, and more controlled. But Salah’s absence cast a long shadow. The questions didn’t fade. And with Sunderland next, Slot would have to answer them. This match wasn’t just about points — it was about restoring Liverpool’s identity at home, proving the champions were still alive, and deciding whether Salah returned to the starting XI. The weight of that decision rested heavily on the manager.
Preparing for the game, Liverpool looked stretched. Tired. Frustrated — not because of internal drama, but because expectations were sky-high and the schedule refused to ease up. Four matches in ten days. A winter run with no breathing room. Slot knew this was the time to rotate and trust the squad depth he’d asked for in the summer. With £446 million spent, Liverpool could no longer talk about shortages. Talent existed everywhere — and now it needed to be used.
The lineup discussion began at the back. Alisson Becker finally felt calmer after a steadier performance at the London Stadium. After conceding three in his previous outing, he desperately needed stability — and got it. Sunderland would pose another test, but one Liverpool expected him to handle comfortably. Clean sheets were more than numbers for Alisson; they were fuel for the entire team.
At right back, Slot planned a rotation. Joe Gomez had impressed against West Ham, but he’d been carrying small fitness concerns, and the heavy schedule made overworking him risky. That opened the door for Dominik Szoboszlai, who had surprisingly excelled in that hybrid right-back role earlier in the season. His energy, passing range, and ball progression fit Slot’s system well. Bradley and Frimpong were close to returning, but not ready to start. So Szoboszlai would step into the role again.
At centre-back, Ibrahima Konaté finally looked refocused. Transfer rumours linking him to Real Madrid had disrupted him in the summer, but that noise had faded. Against West Ham he took a positive first step. Now he needed consistency. Liverpool needed the dominant, physically overwhelming Konaté — the one who played like a warrior.
Beside him stood captain Virgil van Dijk, still haunted by one of the worst home performances of his career. A penalty conceded, a yellow card, four goals shipped — Van Dijk hated every second of it. He wanted redemption, immediately. The opponent didn’t matter; pride did.
At left back, Andy Robertson returned. Kerkez had started three consecutive games and needed rest. Robertson had been the stronger performer this season, offering leadership, intensity, and accuracy. Slot trusted him to steady the flank.
In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch prepared for a demanding night. Sunderland thrived in transition, and Liverpool had struggled in those moments. He needed to protect the back line, anticipate danger, and win duels.
Alongside him, Alexis Mac Allister would start. After an inconsistent season, he finally looked more composed and intelligent on the ball against West Ham. Slot needed that version of him — especially against a team capable of suffocating a careless midfield.
Then came the biggest decision: Salah. Would he return? Yes. Slot planned to restore him to the lineup. With a brutal schedule ahead, Liverpool needed their superstar back on the pitch. Leaving him out again would create chaos too big to control. Salah’s pride, fan expectations, and the need for rhythm made the choice obvious. He would start on the right.
Florian Wirtz would start behind the striker. The £116 million signing produced his best performance for Liverpool at West Ham — dictating play, creating chances, and adding intelligence to every move. Slot believed Wirtz was unlocking a new layer of Liverpool’s attack, and this match was another chance to build on that momentum.
Cody Gakpo kept his spot on the left. With a goal and assist in the previous match, he was Liverpool’s most productive attacker of the season. Nine goal contributions already. Confidence rising. Movements sharper. Slot trusted him again.
Up front, Hugo Ekitiké started. Slot didn’t want to overburden Isak, who had just scored his first Premier League goal. With so many matches on the horizon, rotating strikers was essential. Ekitiké was hungry and eager.
The lineup was ready. The pressure was enormous. Liverpool stepped toward the pitch knowing exactly what this night represented. It wasn’t just about tactics or points. It was about standing up after humiliation, rewriting the narrative of Anfield, and proving the champions still lived inside the club’s crest.
As Anfield’s lights began to glow, Liverpool walked into the night with one mission: restore pride, restore control, restore belief.
