Bookings: Vergini (41, foul); Lucas (51, foul); Bridcutt (60, foul)

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Preston): A couple of weak penalty shouts from the visitors and the odd moan from the home crowd was all he had to worry about 7

Attendance: 44,716

Entertainment: 1/5

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Mignolet 5; Johnson 6, Skirtel 5, Toure 6; Moreno 6; Lucas 7, Henderson 5; Lallana 3 (Gerrard 67, 5), Coutinho 6, (Markovic 78), Sterling 6; Lambert 4. Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Enrique, Lovren, Can, Allen.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1)

6 Pantiimon: Had a couple of routine efforts to keep out, never overly worked or stretched;

7 Vergini: Assured in possession and comfortable on the ball edging forward, looked a natural at right-back

7 O’Shea: Positioning at the back was impeccable and read any danger Liverpool posed well all afternoon. Eased through the game

7 Brown: Solid in the main and produced some telling blocks when the defence were put under some pressure in the latter stages

6 Reveillere: Kept the silent £20m Lallana in check without any fuss whatsoever;

7 BRIDCUTT: Shielded and protected the back four and produced a strong and brave block in the area to keep out a goalbound shot;

5 Johnson: Always looks like he can offer so much more but didn’t do it when presented with openings

7 Larsson: Strong and influential in working away in the middle of the park to keep things tight and stop the home side from playing

5 Gomez: Didn’t offer much going forward and putting his foot in when he matters isn’t really his game

6 Wickham: On the left he put some work in getting up to help the attack and back to help out the defence. Put a couple of good openings well wide;

3 Altidore: Willing and never hid, but not physically strong or determined enough when it matters.

Subs:

Cattermole (for Larsson 70): Introduced to help protect the midfield after Gerrard’s arrival 5

Alvarez (for Altidore 70): Looked to try and help the Black Cats counter attack from deep 5

Buckley (for Johnson 79)

(not used): Mannone (gk), Rodwell, Fletcher, Robson.

MAN OF THE MATCH Liam Bridcutt – a week after Lee Cattermole’s midfield heroics against Chelsea, he proved he can do the same job.