Goals:

0-1: Markovic (9, allowed to cut inside having been afforded space down the right before finishing off a move also involving Gerrard and Borini)

Bookings: Borini (15, foul); Vergini (28, foul); Bridcutt (35, foul); Coutinho (36, dissent); Henderson (54, foul); Lovren (55, foul)

Sending-off: Bridcutt (49, second bookable offence)

Referee: Craig Pawson (Halifax) – very quick to get out his cards and that paved the way for a dismissal, which was Bridcutt. 5

Attendance: 45, 369

Entertainment: PP

Sund Liv

Shots on: 1 4

Shots off: 3 17

Corners: 6 6

Offsides: 2 2

Fouls: 12 11

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1):

6 Pantilimon: Could not be blamed for the defeat and made a few saves to keep the Reds down to one;

3 Vergini: This was as bad as he has played since an awful outing at Anfield shortly after his arrival 12 months ago

5 Brown: Without being excellent, he tried to stick with his man and put in the occasional foot

5 O’Shea: Made a couple of decent blocks and made life relatively difficult for Borini

3 van Aanholt: Pushed forward but looked rusty and often lost control in possession;

4 Bridcutt: Two silly cautions means he will be suspended for the trip to Tottenham

7 JOHNSON: By far Sunderland’s best player and hit the bar with a stunning distance drive

6 Larsson: Saw plenty of the ball and tried to get involved without ever really being influential

4 Gomez: Allowed the game to pass him by and it was surprising that he stayed on for the duration

5 Giaccherini: Showed a few nice touches but unable to cause Liverpool problems;

4 Wickham: Hardly got a touch in the first half and Graham offered more of a threat after he was brought on

Subs:

Buckley (for Giaccherini 77)

Graham (for Wickham 77)

Mandron (Johnson 86)

(not used): Jones, Alvarez, Agnew, Mannone (gk).

LIVERPOOL (3-4-2-1): Mignolet 6; Can 7, Skrtel 7, Sakho 7; MARKOVIC 8, Henderson 6, Lucas 7, Moreno 6; Gerrard 5 (Lovren 45, 6), Coutinho 6; Borini 4 (Balotelli 67, 5). Subs (not used): Ward (gk), Enrique, Lambert, Manquillo, Rossiter.

MAN OF THE MATCH: LAZAR Markovic – caused problems throughout for the Black Cats, particularly in the first half.