Liverpool claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Sunderland in the Premier League, with Virgil van Dijk’s header ending the hosts’ long unbeaten home sequence. The result delivered only Liverpool’s second win of 2026, yet it strengthened their push for a Champions League place and extended an impressive away record against newly promoted opponents.
Van Dijk struck in the 61st minute at the Stadium of Light, rising to meet a set-piece and steer Liverpool ahead. Sunderland had not lost at home in any competition since May 2025, but Liverpool’s control, organisation and clean sheet saw that 14-match run finally broken in a tight contest.
The win means Liverpool are now unbeaten in nine Premier League away games against promoted clubs, with seven victories
and two draws in that spell. Their previous defeat in such fixtures came at Bournemouth in March 2023, so this success against Sunderland maintained a strong pattern on the road.
Liverpool created far more chances, recording 23 shots worth 2.0 expected goals, yet only three attempts tested the goalkeeper. Sunderland managed 11 efforts, with just two on target, and struggled to seriously trouble Alisson once they fell behind, despite a late push and energetic closing stages.
Van Dijk stressed that the performance carried extra weight after Liverpool’s late defeat to Manchester City in their previous league outing. The centre-back also praised the effort across the pitch, highlighting the work of Ibrahima Konate and Alexis Mac Allister in another strong defensive display and a vital shutout.
"A great win, hard work, on a very interesting, difficult pitch, Van Dijk told TNT Sports. Recover and go again on the weekend. It was quite a circumstance, but to come here and to play like we did today was a well-deserved three points. I think they showed this season how difficult it is to beat them, and a lot of credit to them - it is a hard-working team. It is good to come here and for us to win and keep the clean sheet. A good match for us. Ibo [Ibrahima Konate] was outstanding, Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] in front. Everyone was putting a shift in. Proud of the guys as they worked so hard. "
Key match numbers underlined Liverpool’s control and Sunderland’s resistance across the ninety minutes.
Liverpool’s 23 shots were the most Sunderland had faced in a home league match since Chelsea produced 24 attempts in November 2014. Sunderland, however, stayed in the game and pressed forward after conceding, even if the final pass and finish often lacked precision against Liverpool’s compact defence.
Liverpool Sunderland Premier League result shapes top-four and cup focus
Van Dijk also reflected on the wider impact of the victory in the Premier League table, with Liverpool chasing a top-four finish and balancing domestic commitments. The captain stressed the need for better consistency and fitness levels across the remaining 12 league fixtures of the 2025-26 season.
"We can't deny that it feels very big [in the race for the top four], but there are still 12 games to go. So, we have to keep improving and trying to find consistency. We have to try to stay fit, stay confident and keep improving. Recover, and we play Saturday at 20:00 [GMT] against Brighton [in the FA Cup], which is a difficult team to beat. "
Sunderland’s defeat ended a 14-game unbeaten home stretch in all competitions, which had featured seven wins and seven draws since that loss to QPR in May 2025. Head coach Regis Le Bris accepted the setback but underlined that Sunderland’s motivation stays high despite only two wins in their last six league outings.
"Obviously, they are a good team, and they played well, he told BBC MOTD. We struggled a bit in the first half to find the right distance against smart, agile players comfortable on the ball. I think we wasted a bit of energy at that time. We tried to be competitive, but the second half was better. We were more located on the pitch, and we had our opportunities, but small margins define this kind of game. In the final third, they were good - the team spirit was excellent, once again. It is a question of details, but details make the difference. When you chase the game, it is not the easiest pitch because you have to be clean, recomposed with the ball and those small margins in the final third you can change the dynamic of the game. Now, we want to win points, and the motivation of the squad is excellent. We have to be resilient. It is part of our journey. "
The Liverpool Sunderland Premier League meeting therefore closed with both sides drawing clear lessons. Liverpool left with three points, a clean sheet and renewed belief before facing Brighton in the FA Cup. Sunderland lost their long home streak but retained confidence in their approach and determination to respond in upcoming league matches.
