ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Florian Wirtz helped Liverpool to come from behind against Sunderland, ensuring Arne Slot avoided a third successive home defeat.

With no goals and few chances at half-time, it felt like a game that needed an injection of something extra. Mohamed Salah came on and threatened to make a difference, but it was Chemsdine Talbi who opened the scoring with a deflected effort that went in off Virgil van Dijk.

Mohamed Salah question grows

For just the second time in his Liverpool career, Mohamed Salah was named on the bench for a second successive game that he was available for. Just like at the weekend, it was a bold call from Arne Slot, but one that made sense.

Sticking with the same team that looked cohesive against West Ham was the thinking, Arne Slot said before kick-off. The logic was sound, for sure, but at half-time, he emerged in place of Cody Gakpo.

Without him, Liverpool was functional and went back to basics. With him, there was a little bit of added attacking spark for a bit: exactly the reason that keeping him out of the team for long was unsustainable.

For a short period, he had an extra spring in his step here, determined, clearly, to make a point. That fizzled out, however, and his influence waned. Does he start on Saturday? We're not really any closer to the answer.

More Joe Gomez chances coming?

Joe Gomez, making his 250th appearance for Liverpool, was in again at right-back after playing well against West Ham on Sunday. He isn't ever going to be much more than a functional, defensive-minded option in that position, but Slot would take that right now.

Gomez was limited on the ball and wasn't always keen to throw in a cross (even though he set up Cody Gakpo at the London Stadium only a few days ago), but you know what you're getting with him: the kind of platform that Liverpool has been crying out for.

With Conor Bradley returning from injury soon, Gomez could become a center-back option should Liverpool want to go down that route. His steady performances of late would suggest it is worth a go, though, as his substitution proved when he was jaded, he can't play every few days at the moment. He might never be capable of that.

Alexander Isak anonymous

Fresh from scoring his first Premier League goal a few days ago, Swedish striker Alexander Isak was named in the starting XI once again, a reward for his nice finish — and a continuation of the building up of his fitness.

Jeered by the Sunderland fans for his Newcastle connections, they didn't have too many opportunities to boo him because he didn't touch the ball that much.

This was a good example of what Slot said when he was talking about others (Hugo Ekitike) potentially being more worthy of game time, but Isak having to push through in order to improve.

Minutes under his belt was the only positive here. This was an utterly unforgettable showing from the $169 million ($125 million) man.

With a win, Liverpool would have moved back above Sunderland. Having gone behind, though, it had to settle for a point, which is something it would have done a few times this season.

Arsenal comfortably took care of business against Brentford, kicking off 45 minutes before Liverpool. Manchester City, meanwhile, with its crazy 4-5 win at Fulham on Tuesday, is another part of the conversation at the top.

Liverpool cannot be thinking too much about those two at the moment — step by step, it must improve. This was a small step, in that it didn't collapse following a setback but fought its way back, which hasn't happened often of late. Beyond that, though, there is still much work to do, with Arne Slot left frustrated that his team wasn't capable of a bit more. (LIVER POOL.COM)