Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk secured a vital three points on Wearside to boost the Reds’ pursuit of Champions League qualification.
The Reds managed to grind out a gritty 1-0 victory against Sunderland, at a rain-lashed Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening.
The Black Cats entered the fixture as the only Premier League side with an unbeaten home record this term, having previously held both Arsenal and Manchester City to draws.
However, they were unable to stop Virgil van Dijk, who rose highest in the 61st minute to meet a Mohamed Salah corner with a powerful header that Habib Diarra could only deflect into the roof of the net.
The win is only Liverpool’s second in their last eight league matches and moves them within three points of fourth-placed Manchester United.
Despite the result, Arne Slot faces a mounting injury crisis. With several key defenders already sidelined, Wataru Endo was forced to start at right-back before being stretchered off in the second half.
Sunderland felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty earlier in the match when Ibrahima Konate appeared to haul down Brian Brobbey. For Slot, the victory represents a much-needed reprieve in what he has described as the toughest season of his career.