Match reportVirgil van Dijk header secures Liverpool victory at Sunderland

The Reds secured three points from their trip to the north east thanks to their captain's effort in the 61st minute.

Van Dijk glanced home a Mohamed Salah corner and the goal was enough to separate the two teams, seeing Arne Slot's side become the first team to leave the Stadium of Light victorious in the top flight this season.

Team

Liverpool made two changes for the fixture as Wataru Endo replaced the suspended Dominik Szoboszlai, while Andy Robertson returned in place of Milos Kerkez.

Joe Gomez was also named among the substitutes after recovering from injury.

Liverpool: Alisson, Endo (Gomez, 67), Van Dijk, Konate, Wirtz, Mac Allister, Salah, Gakpo (Jones, 75), Ekitike (Chiesa, 88), Robertson, Gravenberch.

Unused subs: Mamardashvili, Kerkez, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha.

First half

The game passed without major incident during the opening 15 minutes on Wearside.

Both teams exchanged early corners, though there was little action in either final third as the two sides continued to grow into the contest.

The Reds were enjoying most of the possession; however, it was the hosts who served the first threat.

Nordi Mukiele sprinted down the right to deliver for Brian Brobbey inside the six-yard box, though the forward was met with a well-timed challenge from Ibrahima Konate to deny his effort.

In the opposite box, Florian Wirtz then saw a low cross in the area deflected wide of the post with goalkeeper Robin Roefs scrambling after being left wrong-footed.

A short while later, Liverpool's No.7 forced the first save of the night from Roefs, hitting a drive from distance to make the goalkeeper throw himself to his right to push away the chance.

Cody Gakpo then flashed a ball across the box, which was just too high for the onrushing Salah.

Wirtz went closest just after the half-hour mark as the ball recycled to him in the box, resulting in the playmaker smashing a low shot through defensive bodies to strike the far post.

There was a flurry of other chances for the Reds ahead of the break, Van Dijk first seeing a shot blocked over after a Gakpo cross broke to his feet.

Wirtz then had a headed effort saved after Dan Ballard failed to clear a looping cross from Salah from the right flank.

Sunderland did threaten just before the interval, but Nilson Angulo's shot from 25 yards was easily saved by Alisson Becker.

Second half

Trai Hume's driven shot over the bar five minutes after the restart was the first opening of note once the action resumed.

Wirtz was again involved in Liverpool's forward play, seeing a low shot blocked on the edge of the box following a spell of possession.

The two teams then traded chances, with Mukiele drilling wide before Salah had a chance blocked after a clever cutback from Hugo Ekitike.

It was a corner that led to the breakthrough in the game via the head of Van Dijk just after the hour mark.

Liverpool's captain jumped highest at a Salah delivery to glance the ball home, with Habib Diarra attempting to clear away from underneath the crossbar.

The defender's efforts fell short, though, sparking celebrations for the travelling supporters.

Shortly after, the Reds were forced into their first change of the evening, with Endo replaced by Gomez due to an injury.

Ekitike then lifted a chance over the bar from a tight angle in an attempt to double the lead, while Enzo Le Fee saw a header fly over the bar.

The Reds No.22 again sent an opportunity the wrong side of the post, directing a header wide from an Andy Robertson delivery from the left wing.

Substitute Curtis Jones also flashed a dipping shot over the frame of the goal in the closing stages, with Liverpool driving on the break after Sunderland committed bodies forward.

Deep into added time, Salah again threatened, rifling a volley inches wide of the far post from inside the area after a clever pass from Jones.

It was as near as either side would come to adding again to the scoreline, however, with Van Dijk's header proving to be the decisive strike.