Liverpool

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Virgil van Dijk insists he wants "world-class" Ibrahima Konate to stay at Liverpool beyond this summer, when the French defender's contract is set to expire.

Asked about Konate's contract situation, Van Dijk said: "We are friends, we speak about everything. It's a process and let's see what comes out of it. It's never that easy. We saw with my own situation last year so it's never that easy that we can just say "let's get it done".

Konate, 26, joined Liverpool in 2021 and the France international has made 165 appearances for the club since his move from RB Salzburg for £35m.

Liverpool will have Giovanni Leoni and Jeremy Jacquet - both are currently injured - available in the summer as centre-back options but it remains to be seen if the club can agree on a new deal with Konate.

"Obviously I want him (Konate) to stay," said Van Dijk. "He's an important figure on the pitch. That's what everyone sees but off the pitch as well, he's one of the leaders. He's outstanding and in my eyes, a world-class centre back. I can do only so much but it's in the club's hands, together with his agents and himself so let's see what comes out of it but I have no influence otherwise on that."

The Liverpool captain was speaking after he scored the only goal as Arne Slot's side became the first team to beat Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the Premier League this season.

Liverpool also became just the second team to keep a clean sheet at Sunderland this season and Van Dijk hailed Konate's display.

"He (Konate) was outstanding," Van Dijk added.

"He was incredible today. (Brian) Brobbey was with him 90% of the time. Brian Brobbey has made a lot of defender's lives this season pretty difficult but Ibou did outstanding."

Earlier in the week, Slot claimed Liverpool will need to be "close to perfection" to qualify for the Champions League next season and Van Dijk agreed with that assessment.

The Reds' captain added: "If you look at the teams around us, some of them dropped points. I think we're going to play most of them, so definitely we need some perfection. This game (against Sunderland) was pretty close to perfection, how we defended, the intensity, but also the chances we generated. Maybe we should have scored more but it's still taking it game by game.

"Unfortunately, we've got Wata (Endo) out now (the Japan international was stretchered off). Hopefully it's not too long but it could be. We're very thin at the moment. We need everyone available but it's a combination of being ready, physically and mentally. For example, last game losing in that manner at home (to Man City), you have to be strong to come back from that. That's why I'm proud of the guys and the shift they put in. It's an important three points."

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Sunderland and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Sunderland fans

Bob: We were not at the races - could have been 5-0. Did not use Nilson Angulo enough and we need to improve in all departments.

Keith: A game which eerily had a lack of passion and energy. Liverpool squandered their chances. Sunderland lacked the cutting edge up front and did not earn the right to get a result. A game that brought us down to earth.

Stephen: For me, Dan Ballard was man of the match but when does a player on the losing side ever receive that? Liverpool deserved the win and I'm not disheartened by our performance. Another night and different playing conditions and we could have at least got a point.

Alan: Pretty boring game with only rare moments of excitement from both teams. Our lads need to grasp the fact that it is OK to shoot for goal. Too many examples of 'just one more pass' when they inevitably lose possession. However, joint 11th will do - even if it has to be shared with them up the road.

John: Disappointing to lose but Liverpool played well so no disgrace to lose to them.

Liverpool fans

Owen: Very solid display. Hugo Ekitike very hit and miss - missed two good headers in the last two games and attacking threat is not great. Rio Ngumoha needs some more minutes.

Martin: Great defensive performance (for once!) but still need to be taking our chances at the other end. Cody Gakpo looks too predictable.

Ian: So sorry for Wataru Endo. As he always does, he gave his all and you have to question Arne Slot's stubbornness in not playing him earlier in the season. It would have meant Dominik Szoboszlai could have played in his natural midfield role. Massive best wishes to Wataru for a full and speedy recovery.

Graham: Hard fought win, but another major injury. Calvin Ramsay must start against Brighton in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Stephen: The win is the most important thing, second is the clean sheet. Onwards and upwards hopefully.

Aadam Patel
Football reporter

Credit where it is due - this was a rare night of joy on the road for Liverpool in what has been a disappointing campaign thus far.

They battled well against an organised Sunderland side and more than deserved the 1-0 win.

Sunderland raced out of the blocks but Liverpool did well to withstand some early pressure and were by far the better side for most of the first half.

They were comfortable in possession, with Florian Wirtz at the heart of everything, and perhaps the only criticism can be their failure to make that dominance count.

In the end, it took a set-piece for Arne Slot's side to break the deadlock - with Liverpool's 10th corner of the game resulting in Virgil van Dijk's goal. The Dutchman now has more goals (23) than any other Liverpool defender in the Premier League era.

Mohamed Salah's struggles in front of goal are becoming a concern, but he provided his 92nd Premier League assist for Liverpool, moving him level with Steven Gerrard for their most in the competition.

The fact Sunderland rarely threatened is also testament to Liverpool's defence, which saw two changes as Wataru Endo and Andy Robertson came in for Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez.

Manchester City are the only other side to have kept a clean sheet at Sunderland this season (a 0-0 draw in January).

Liverpool have not performed like reigning champions often enough this term, but on this wet night in the north east they turned up and delivered a display befitting of that status.

Image source, Getty Images

It was 10 November 2002 when 16-year-old James Milner made his first Premier League appearance for Leeds United.

Milner came off the bench to replace Jason Wilcox in a 4-3 win at West Ham.

What else was going on in the world in November 2002?

Number one singles in the UK around that time included "Heaven" by DJ Sammy and Yanou featuring Do and "Unbreakable" by Westlife.

On television, ITV talent show Popstars: The Rivals was approaching its conclusion (whatever happened to One True Voice?) while series two of The Office had just ended - would a tearful David Brent avoid being made redundant from his job at Wernham Hogg?

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" and "Die Another Day" were released in UK cinemas.

Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford was a month old, while former US Open tennis champion Emma Raducanu was born three days after Milner's senior debut.

James Milner now holds the all-time record for the most Premier League appearances.

The former England international, 40, made his 654th Premier League outing in Wednesday's defeat at former club Aston Villa - which took him past the previous mark set by Gareth Barry.

Milner made his debut for Leeds in November 2002 as a 16-year-old and became the Premier League's youngest-ever goalscorer before the end of that year.

He featured regularly at first-team level from then on, but his time at Elland Road came to an end when Leeds, in deep financial trouble at the time, were relegated from the top flight in 2004.

Image source, Getty Images

Milner was contracted to Newcastle for four years, although he spent the 2005-06 campaign on loan at Aston Villa and nearly joined them full-time in the summer of 2006.

That move to Villa Park would eventually happen in 2008.

Image source, Getty Images

Milner was a key part of a Villa side that narrowly missed out on silverware and Champions League qualification under Martin O'Neill.

He scored the opening goal in Villa's 2010 League Cup final loss to Manchester United.

Image source, Getty Images

Milner moved to Manchester City in the early weeks of the 2010-11 season and won numerous honours during his five seasons with the club, including two Premier League titles and one FA Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

Milner swapped City for Liverpool on a free transfer in the summer of 2015 and spent eight seasons with the Reds.

While at Anfield, he won all three major domestic trophies and the Champions League in 2019.

Milner played more Premier League games for Liverpool (230) than any of the other top-flight clubs he has represented.

Image source, Getty Images

Milner has been with Brighton since 2023, appearing in the Seagulls' first-ever European campaign in 2023-24.

He recently joined a select band of outfield players to have made a Premier League appearance after their 40th birthday and is more than seven years older than his current boss Fabian Hurzeler.

Image source, Getty Images

Pundits Alan Shearer and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Tuesday's and Wednesday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to BBC MOTD: "Very important. I think we dug deep, after only two days of rest. Then going to a difficult away game. We showed again how well we can play on the ball. We created so many opportunities today.

"The character we have shown throughout the whole game was very good and that is why we leave this place with a 1-0 win.

"Second half, we had so many good moments and so many moments where we had quality players in promising positions.

"The overall performance in terms of work rate was really good."

On Salah equalling Steven Gerrard's 92 assists in the Premier League for the Reds: "He has so many records for this club, but to have this one combined with such a great player. Both were unbelievable players for this club.

"Unfortunately for Steven, I expect Mo to go above him. I don't expect, but I hope he goes above him."

On Wataru Endo's injury: "We don't expect a positive outcome. Like I said, we have to wait and see. We expect not to have him for quite a long time. That is not the first time with our right full-backs. We have accepted this every time. We have to find solutions to keep performing well."

Reds captain Virgil van Dijk, speaking to TNT Sports: "It was going on target I think [his goal]! A great win, hard work, on a very interesting, difficult pitch.

"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."

On the race for Champions League: "We can't deny that it feels very big, but there are still 12 games to go. So we have to keep improving and trying to find consistency."

Did you know?

• Mohamed Salah provided his 92nd assist in the Premier League for Liverpool, moving him level with Steven Gerrard with the most assists in the competition for the Reds

• Virgil van Dijk's goal was his 23rd in the Premier League for Liverpool, moving him one clear of Sami Hyypia (22) as the defender with the most goals in the competition for the Reds.

• Van Dijk tonight was the first player to score a goal, make 10+ headed clearances (11) and win 5+ aerial duels (8) in a Premier League match in any of the last five seasons.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Sunderland's performance

What did you make of Liverpool's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Nilson Angulo starts as Chemsdine Talbi drops to the bench for Regis Le Bris' side.

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Sadiki, Diarra; Hume, Le Fee, Angulo; Brobbey.

Subs: Talbi, Rigg, O'Nien, Mundle, Eliezer Mayenda, Isidor, Geertruida, Ellborg, and Cirkin.

Image source, Premier League

For Liverpool, it's a first Premier League start of the season for Wataru Endo, who starts at right-back. Andy Robertson also comes in.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Endo, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Ramsay, Nyoni, Morrison, Kerkez, Jones, Gomez and Chiesa.

There are five games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Brighton

• Crystal Palace v Burnley

• Man City v Fulham

• Nottingham Forest v Wolves

• Sunderland v Liverpool (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

And listen to Around The Grounds on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds from 19:00

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Sunderland will aim to continue their unbeaten home record this season against a Liverpool side who lost late on at home to Manchester City on Sunday.

BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into their meeting at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland will attempt to bounce back from a competitive, if ultimately comprehensive defeat, at Arsenal on Saturday back in the secure surroundings of the Stadium of Light.

The Black Cats' current unbeaten run of 12 Premier League home games is the longest of any side, most recently beating fellow promoted side Burnley on 2 February. Manchester City and Arsenal have both already failed to win on Wearside this season.

It's the longest run by a promoted side from the start of a top-flight season since 1978, when Nottingham Forest remained unbeaten in all 21 home outings enroute to winning the league title.

Next on the agenda for Regis le Bris' side is an attempt to arrest a winless run against Liverpool – and the time could be ripe to do so.

Sunderland have not beaten the Reds in 11 Premier League meetings, since a 1-0 home win 14 years ago, but all three of Liverpool's Premier League losses in this fixture have come away from home. The visitors will also be without key midfielder Dominic Szoboszlai following his dismissal in Sunday's defeat.

Erling Haaland's winner at the weekend was the sixth stoppage-time goal Arne Slot's side have conceded in the Premier League this season, with only Leeds United and Newcastle United letting in more.

And this one proved particularly costly, with Liverpool five points off fifth place. It is the kind of setback that is particularly unwanted on home soil when Liverpool are struggling so badly on the road.

They have won just two of their past 10 away matches (D3, L5), conceding 21 goals in total this season – which is more than bottom club Wolves.

Sunderland are winless in their eight most recent midweek Premier League games (D3, L5) – although their only goal during this run came in a 1-1 draw at Anfield in December.

Chemsdine Talbi scored on that occasion and he could become the first Sunderland player to score in both league meetings against Liverpool since Stan Cummins 45 years ago.

The Liverpool fans seem to have had enough of Arne Slot, which again makes no sense to me. Just because they aren't going to win the title again doesn't mean they aren't building anything.

It seems that making the Champions League places is like the title used to be now - as in, if you don't make the Champions League then the manager has got to go. It drives me potty.

I know Sunderland lost at Arsenal on Saturday but I still enjoyed their performance.

That might sound odd because they were beaten 3-0 but I still thought the Black Cats were competitive, and they were really physical too. They matched Arsenal for long spells of the game.

So, Liverpool will know what to expect when they try to become the first team to win at Stadium of Light this season, and this is going to be a very difficult game for them.

Slot needs a positive result here, for Liverpool to keep in touch with the teams above them in the race for the top four. My only concern about Sunderland is whether they can bring that same physicality again, but I still don't think Liverpool will win.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Liverpool are at the front of clubs eyeing a summer move for Bournemouth's 19-year-old French forward Eli Junior Kroupi. (Caught Offside), external

Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad want to sign Mohamed Salah this summer and the Reds forward is open to the move. (Foot Mercato - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

One of the big reasons Arne Slot was brought in to succeed Jurgen Klopp was his impressive ability to keep his players fit. Of the shortlisted managers, only Ruben Amorim boasted a better record.

The Dutchman opted for a style of training that was less intense than what players may have been used to.

Slot had worked at Feyenoord with Ruben Peeters, who followed him to Liverpool as the first team's lead performance coach. The pair tailored training to specific players, altering the intensity based on Liverpool's schedule and demands of upcoming games.

Sessions became longer but less intense and, on match days, Slot's Liverpool played less intensely out of possession than Klopp's teams did.

All of these factors, built upon a squad conditioned to play under Klopp, combined to leave them remarkably injury-free last season, resulting in Liverpool being crowned Premier League champions.

They have not been so fortunate this time around.

Liverpool have looked to break teams down by initially committing bodies to the box, an approach that has left them vulnerable to counter-attacks.

Teams have deliberately looked to play long against Liverpool, which has also introduced more end-to-end running and duelling. The Liverpool players have physically struggled with this.

Slot has since gone for a more measured and defensively solid set-up, which has reduced how end-to-end games are, but Liverpool struggle to score early.

The Premier League is home to the most sprints and high-intensity runs in Europe. Opponents can afford to minimise how much they run through a season by spending large parts of the game in their pragmatic low blocks.

However, Liverpool's fans are likely to want to see high-octane matches from their side.

With an uptick in soft tissue injuries, there is a worry the training methods and on-field tactics described here have been sub-optimal this season when compared to last season, with Liverpool's players dropping off in the latter parts of games.

Between wanting to appease fans, ensuring his players stay fit, wanting to score early and aiming to stay solid at the back, the Liverpool boss has a difficult balancing act on his hands.

• Read the full article on why late goals are undoing Liverpool

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This was a news conference where Arne Slot mentioned the "setbacks", "hits" and "bad luck" that his Liverpool side have faced this season.

There have been plenty of reasons, from long-term absentees to late goals to the time it has taken the new signings to adapt to life in the Premier League.

"Even if we sign a player [Jeremy Jacquet] and he's not even playing for us he gets injured," the Liverpool boss said, after Jacquet, who will join for a fee of £60m in the summer, sustained a shoulder injury at the weekend while playing for Rennes.

Yet Slot stressed that the overriding focus should remain on improving their performances, even if at times it feels like he has "tried many different things".

"The question is are we unlucky or is it part of who we are? That is something we can only find out in the upcoming three to four months," Slot stressed.

It didn't feel he was making excuses - rather, Slot was refreshingly honest about the range of challenges his side have faced and admitting their flaws.

There was a little smile when he admitted that this is the toughest season he's ever had in his career. Within that, a glimpse too into how challenging everything has been for him at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

Defeat at Sunderland on Wednesday will only amplify the pressure on the Dutchman. Like he said, it would not be acceptable for Liverpool to miss out on the Champions League.

But there was a sense of defiance and belief too within Slot, who still believes his Liverpool can do "special" things this season. If not, then the voices around his future at the club will only grow.

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's defensive problems and Calvin Ramsay's lack of playing time have been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Liverpool' form.

When the Reds travel to Sunderland on Wednesday, they will do so without Dominik Szoboszlai after his red card against Manchester City.

Szoboszlai has played at right-back in the past two games, with Conor Bradley, Jeremie Frimpong and Joe Gomez all injured.

Arne Slot does not expect Gomez to be fit for the trip to Sunderland, though the 28-year-old did return to training on Tuesday.

If not, he may well be down to his fifth choice right-back. In Ramsay, Slot has a full-back ready to step in but the 22-year-old has only played once this season, in the Carabao Cup defeat by Crystal Palace.

He has been on the bench for the past 10 Premier League games but is yet to come on.

In the aftermath of Bradley's season-ending injury in January, Slot was asked whether Ramsay would get a chance, but the Liverpool boss brutally insisted he had "better options", even if he was running out of them.

Slot believes Ramsay is good enough to train around the first team but the reality is he prefers playing midfielders out of position over the 22-year-old Scot.

Asked again on Tuesday, Slot said: "I've chosen other players until now and that's also what I'm going to do tomorrow."

So it seems Slot is set to turn to Curtis Jones or Wataru Endo at right-back on Wednesday - both have played there previously this season. And that will be another damning indictment for Ramsay.

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Flora Snelson
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (kick-off 20:15 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On how he'll be judged in the summer: "If we don't have Champions League football, it's not been an acceptable season."

• Slot acknowledged the financial impact of qualification, noting how Federico Chiesa was the only signing possible during his first window because the previous season they were competing in the Europa League.

• Amid small margins, Liverpool will have to be "close to perfection" to qualify for the Champions League.

• Slot was "disappointed" by Dominik Szoboszlai's red card against Manchester City: "That's not what we like if we love football, but he followed the rulebook and the referees are there to follow the rulebook."

• He is expecting defender Joe Gomez, who is a potential option at right-back, to train on Tuesday, but said: "If he's not ready to start, then we are missing four players in that position."

• On conceding late goals: "The late goals in extra time is far more than usual - is that bad luck or us? That is something we can find out in the next three to four months."

• Slot compared how Liverpool performed against City with their display in the reverse fixture, when "we hardly touched the ball". He attributed this to his players not starting the season ready to compete every three games, though they are now at an acceptable level of intensity.

• He refuted suggestions that Alisson's passing accuracy has got worse: "I've seen the same goalkeeper this year as last year. The main thing for a goalkeeper is still shot-stopping, by the way, and he does that really well."

• On protecting his players' mentality: "Draws feel like a loss at this club. It's not easy for the players because they know what the standards of Liverpool mean and they are not performing to those standards at the moment."

• Slot says this has been his most difficult season "by a mile", noting that he has not lost two games in a row in previous seasons.

• On how he adapts to the challenge: "No-one in this building would say I have completely changed, but it is different next to other seasons where we always did something special. There's still a possibility that we can do something special this season as well."

• On Sunderland: "It's definitely an accomplishment if you are promoted and do so well. That is a big compliment to their players and manager."

Hear more from Slot on BBC Sounds

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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The Liverpool board will consider the future of manager Arne Slot if the Reds fail to qualify for next season's Champions League. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories and gossip? Read Tuesday's full column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Jordan Chamberlain
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The only time Liverpool have control in midfield is when the opposition plays a low block.

And even then it's pointless, as our play is slow and without ideas - so we keep the ball for possession's sake.

Alexis Mac Allister is starting ahead of Curtis Jones but he shouldn't be. The Argentine has had a very poor season and he went completely missing in the first half against Manchester City.

Ryan Gravenberch can dribble but is a horrible passer, while our best midfielder, Dom Szoboszlai, is being wasted at right-back.

A few years ago when Liverpool were having a poor season because of a defensive injury crisis, Jurgen Klopp decided to field Fabinho and Gini Wijnaldum at centre-back to get as many of his best players in the team as possible.

It didn't work and eventually he picked real centre-backs Rhys Williams and Nat Philipps and Liverpool went on to secure a top-four finish.

Slot needs to do this now. Use Calvin Ramsay or Wataru Endo at right-back and let Szoboszlai play in midfield. Playing Mac Allister and Gravenberch, neither of whom provide stability, as a double pivot, is too dangerous - as proven by how City strolled through our centre in the first half.

We also have nothing off the bench. Hugo Ekitike is brilliant but after 70 minutes his legs run out every week.

Why Slot doesn't use his subs earlier I'll never know. He needs to put trust in his non-starters. He makes it so obvious he doesn't rate them.

Find more from Jordan Chamberlain at Empire of the Kop, external

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester United and Everton striker Wayne Rooney discussing Liverpool's current position on his BBC podcast: "For Liverpool, the whole season really has been a concern.

"I actually thought they did brilliantly in the second half against Manchester City. They have been good in certain games and not picked up the results.

"Now they've got a battle on to try to make a Champions League place. There'll be pressure coming on Arne Slot.

"I don't think Liverpool will change anything now, but in the summer it'll be really interesting.

"Slot's job might be that he has to finish in the Champions League places, so that brings a lot of pressure on them."

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds