Slot admits Liverpool have lost fear factor after 1–1 Anfield stumble

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has admitted that the defending Premier League champions have lost their fear factor following another disappointing outing at Anfield, where struggling Sunderland forced a 1–1 draw on Wednesday night.

The result means Liverpool have now gone three home matches without a victory, with their latest point rescued only through a Nordi Mukiele own goal after the visitors had taken a shock lead.

Sunderland, who have not won at Anfield since 1983, stunned the home crowd when Chemsdine Talbi’s heavily deflected strike wrong-footed Alisson to put the Black Cats ahead. Liverpool laboured throughout the first half, with their high-priced attacking duo — Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak — again failing to produce the expected spark.

Slot’s men levelled through a slice of fortune in the second half when Mukiele diverted Wirtz’s effort into his own net, but the Black Cats still could have left with all three points. Substitute Wilson Isidor rounded off a sweeping counter-attack in stoppage time, only for Federico Chiesa to clear his effort off the line in dramatic fashion.

The champions have now won just two of their last nine Premier League games after starting the season with five consecutive victories.

“Teams believe they can get a result against us” — Slot

A frustrated Slot admitted after the match that Liverpool no longer strike fear into opponents.

“Teams that play us now think they can get a result,” he said. “And not only think — it has been shown this season. Even in games we have won, we have given other teams confidence that something is possible because our wins weren’t easy ones.”

Slot’s attempt to rotate his squad also offered little improvement. Mohamed Salah started on the bench for a second successive game, entering after the break but struggling to influence play against a disciplined Sunderland back line.

Despite Liverpool controlling possession, clear chances were rare, with Sunderland’s deep defensive block limiting opportunities for Wirtz, Isak and Salah.

“Hard team to score against” — Manager laments fine margins

Slot acknowledged the visitors were difficult to break down and blamed misfortune for the concession that left his side chasing the game.

“I knew before the game Sunderland is a hard team to score against, a hard team to create chances against,” he said. “We were really unlucky with the goal we conceded. It was a deflection and could have gone anywhere — but in the period we are in, it went in.”

Liverpool remain off the pace in the title race and increasingly vulnerable at home, with recent performances raising concerns about form, confidence and cohesion in Slot’s squad.