SUNDERLAND’S long wait for a win at Anfield in the league goes on but goals from Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe earned a 2-2 draw to highlight the fight that still exists to beat the drop this season.

After a quiet first half in which Liverpool failed to seriously trouble the visitors, Sunderland looked to have been beaten by two goals inside 11 second half minutes.

Roberto Firmino, the man of the match, was the orchestrator by heading in the first just before the hour and then he supplied the second for Adam Lallana.

But then Sunderland were somehow allowed to claw themselves level. The turnaround arrived after thousands of Liverpool fans – who had chanted ‘enough is enough’ in protest at next season’s ticket prices at Anfield – had walked out in the 77th minute to highlight the £77 price of selected tickets in the new main stand next season.

Former Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet did his best to help his old club get back into it when he helped Johnson’s hopeful free-kick creep inside his near post with eight minutes remaining.

And when Jermain Defoe turned in the box before firing things level with a minute remaining, Sunderland fans bounced in delight hoping for another great escape with their side still four points adrift of safety.

After the encouraging display that earned nothing against Manchester City in midweek, Sam Allardyce was forced to make a couple of changes to that starting line-up.

With Fabio Borini struck down with an illness and Jeremain Lens ruled out with an ankle knock, Duncan Watmore and £9m man Wahbi Khazri were named on the wings.

Watmore’s appearance only lasted 25 minutes, however, because he fell awkwardly on his ankle and despite efforts to play on he hobbled off and was replaced by Dame N’Doye.

Clear cut chances were few and far between but Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone did have to make one important stop shortly before Watmore’s injury.

The Italian was alert to deny Alberto Moreno when Jan Kirchhoff dawdled in possession in his own half to be robbed by Jordan Henderson.

Firmino, who had rolled on the pass for Moreno’s effort, was by far and away Liverpool’s main threat and when he tried something it tended to cause problems.

He had an effort fly over the bar from distance after he had cleverly turned in space outside of the area. There were also further half chances for Moreno and Firmino before the break, while Patrick van Aanholt fired a free-kick well wide.

Sunderland had set their stall out to defend and counter-attack which looked like it could earn something against an under-performing Liverpool side.

But then, after Firmino had gone close with a rasping drive after rounding John O’Shea and Kirchhoff, Mannone was beaten to make the task of avoiding another defeat much harder.

James Milner and Lallana combined down the left. Milner sent in a teasing back post centre, where Firmino had backstepped away from van Aanholt and he headed the opener inside the far post.

After that Liverpool should have added to the lead, with Lallana and Ibe both testing Mannone, while van Aanholt missed a fantastic chance to equalise with 23 minutes remaining. He hit the side-netting after Khazri had played him in on goal.

It proved costly too as Liverpool added the crucial second. Billy Jones got himself in a mess and Firmino charged the ball down before bearing down on goal.

The South American shaped to shoot but he rolled a pass into the path of Lallana for the England winger to have the simple task of tapping over the line.

But then, after the thousands of Liverpool fans walked out in protest at increased ticket prices for next season, Johnson curled a free-kick inside Mignolet’s near post to put Sunderland back in it. And Defoe, by turning Mamadou Sakho in the box, created the space to fire things level in the last minute with a clinical strike low beyond Mignolet to clinch a point – even if Sunderland have still not won in the league at Anfield since 1983.

LIVERPOOOL (4-2-3-1): Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren (Toure 12), Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Can; Allen (Ibe 45), Lallana, Milner; Firmino. Subs (not used): Ward (gk), Benteke, Sturridge, Lucas, Flanagan.

SUNDERLAND (4-1-4-1): Mannone; Jones (Yedlin 75), Kone, O’Shea, van Aanholt; Kirchhoff (Johnson 66); Watmore (N’Doye 24), M’Vila, Cattermole, Khazri; Defoe. Subs (not used): Pickford (gk), Brown, Rodwell, Toivonen.