Van Dijk header ends Sunderland’s unbeaten home run in tense clash

Liverpool tore down Sunderland’s proud unbeaten home record with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the Stadium of Light, as Virgil van Dijk delivered the decisive blow in a tense Premier League showdown.

The reigning Premier League champions arrived on Wearside determined to respond after their painful late defeat to Manchester City at Anfield. They left with three vital points and a landmark result: the first team to beat Sunderland on their own turf this season.

It was not a flowing spectacle. Instead, it was a contest of discipline, patience and nerve.

Sunderland, buoyed by a formidable home run, dug in from the outset. They denied space, frustrated Liverpool’s forwards and forced the visitors to probe without reward during a cagey first half. Despite enjoying spells of possession, Liverpool struggled to break through a defence that has made the Stadium of Light one of the most difficult venues in the league this campaign.

The breakthrough finally arrived on the hour mark.

A corner arced into the Sunderland penalty area, and Van Dijk rose above the crowd. The Dutch defender powered his header past the goalkeeper, sending the travelling support into raptures. It was a captain’s intervention, direct, clinical and decisive.

From that moment, Liverpool focused on control rather than flair. They managed the tempo, pressed intelligently and limited Sunderland’s clear opportunities. Yet the match refused to settle comfortably.

There was a nervy moment when Robin Roefs almost handed Liverpool a second goal with a costly error, briefly injecting chaos into an otherwise tight encounter. Sunderland sensed vulnerability but could not capitalise. Liverpool held firm through the closing stages, absorbing pressure and protecting their slender advantage until the final whistle.

While the victory restored momentum after the Manchester City setback, it did not come without cost.

Wataru Endo, deployed at right-back, suffered a worrying ankle injury in the second half. The midfielder was stretchered off after a nasty-looking incident, adding to Arne Slot’s growing list of fitness concerns. The sight of Endo being carried from the pitch cast a shadow over an otherwise crucial evening for the Reds.

Slot has already battled persistent injury disruptions this season, and Endo’s setback compounds those worries at a time when Liverpool is seeking consistency. Squad depth will now be tested again as the champions navigate a demanding fixture schedule.

For Sunderland, the defeat stings deeply. Their unbeaten home record had become a symbol of resilience and ambition. The Stadium of Light had been a fortress until now. Liverpool’s victory not only dents that record but also serves as a reminder of the ruthless edge required at the top level.

The Black Cats fought hard and never looked overwhelmed. Yet they lacked the decisive touch in key moments. Against elite opposition, those margins are unforgiving.

Liverpool, meanwhile, rediscovered their defensive steel. Van Dijk’s commanding presence proved pivotal, and the clean sheet underlined a disciplined performance. After frustration at Anfield, this was a response built on organisation and authority rather than spectacle.

It was not pretty. It did not need to be.

In a season where every point carries weight, Liverpool’s ability to grind out results could prove decisive. Sunderland’s fortress has fallen, and the reigning champions march on.