HAVING spent the past two years trying to adopt a street-wise approach to delivering Championship supremacy, Mick McCarthy now wants Sunderland to use their brains rather than brawn to come to terms with life in the Premiership.

McCarthy was left puzzled by an anaemic refereeing display from Barry Knight at Anfield on Saturday, as lively winger Andy Welsh was sent off for an innocuous clash with Liverpool substitute Luis Garcia.

That was just one of a long list of incidents that infuriated the Sunderland camp.

And McCarthy is hoping to use his side's second defeat of the season as a starting point to make his team play with more intelligence. Instead of playing the more physical game they had to adapt to during two seasons in the Football League.

It is clearly something that needs addressing if Sunderland are to avoid a relegation struggle. Propping up the embryonic league table is not the sort of start anyone on Wearside was looking for after two matches.

Liverpool may have held the upper-hand for much of the game and could have been more than Xabi Alonso's first half free-kick in front, but a lack of a killer touch in front of goal from the home side encouraged Sunderland to go forward.

Sunderland had just been injected with more life by bringing on both Chris Brown and Stephen Elliott when Mr Knight decided to show Welsh the red card with 16 minutes remaining.

McCarthy, who told the official what he thought at the final whistle, said: "We will never know if we'd have got something from this game because we went down to ten men.

"There was a bit of Swan Lake going on up and down the place I'm afraid. People diving all over the place.

"We have had two games in the Premiership - it's a better place to be than the Championship - but perhaps we have to learn that things like that will happen.

"The players here are a bit cuter, a bit brighter, a bit more intelligent. That's why they are playing at his level. We have to learn. I think we have learnt a lot from the two games. Our performance here was considerably better."

Mr Knight - only refereeing at Anfield because Graeme Souness had protested about him taking charge of Newcastle's game with West Ham - had ruined Welsh's promising day on Merseyside.

After initially being shoved to the floor on a couple of occasions too easily by Steve Finnan, the young left-winger's desire to beat his marker never wavered until his dismissal.

Apparently Welsh swung his arm at Luis Garcia. A leg perhaps, but no arm. And, even if a petulant leg did connect with the Spaniard, replays suggested no card was deserved.

The former League One prodigy, only in the team through George McCartney's absence, now boasts two positive performances from life in the Premiership and McCarthy is pleased with what he is seeing.

"It was not a red card. Quite clearly it was not a red card," he said. "I have asked the referee, very politely, to have another look at it and he has had the good grace to agree to do so.

"Welsh was terrific. A good £15,000 worth from Stockport, that's for sure. He has been different class that kid. He came in and was a tiny little lad. He has built himself up by spending time in the gym and he deserves to be playing just for his attitude. He has been great."

There was also a decision that went Sunderland's way. Just after the hour mark Alonso picked out Djibril Cisse and the Frenchman's volley was too powerful for goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, but was ruled out for offside.

Cisse actually timed his run to perfection. The goal should have stood and Liverpool should have been two goals up. But regardless of how poor the match officials were, Sunderland are still seeking their first point back and first Premiership win since December 15, 2002, against Liverpool.

The Black Cats can take heart from their match against the European champions - although the Reds should have wrapped it up before the break.

Steven Gerrard hit the post, Fernando Morientes failed to turn the rebound in from close range and Cisse somehow turned Bolo Zenden's centre just wide from inside six yards - highlighting why the Reds supporters are so keen to see Michael Owen return.

But Alonso's stunning free-kick from nearly 30-yards, after Carl Robinson had clumsily fouled Zenden, gave Liverpool the edge and all the points.

In fairness Sunderland did create opportunities to equalise but with Andy Gray operating as a lone striker for most of the game that made it difficult for the visitors to push men into the box to meet crosses.

The same strategy is unlikely to be implemented when Stuart Pearce's fired up City arrive at the Stadium of Light - after all goals lead to points, points mean prizes and the biggest prize of them all in Sunderland's eyes is survival.