SUNDERLAND’S wait for a win at Anfield goes on after losing narrowly to Liverpool after looking like they might leave with at least a point.

Divock Origi’s right-footed curler with quarter of an hour remaining finally found a way into Jordan Pickford’s goal after the Black Cats defence had defended strongly for the majority of the game.

Sunderland, who won their previous two matches to move closer to the safety zone but had not won at Liverpool since 1983, had a few chances themselves but it was the Reds who claimed the points to climb back to the top of the Premier League.

And when James Milner added a second from the spot in injury-time, it meant Sunderland had dropped back to the foot of the table after Swansea’s dramatic 5-4 win over Crystal Palace.

With Papy Djilobodji suspended and Paddy McNair ruled out for the season through injury, Moyes was forced into two changes and that meant Steven Pienaar and John O’Shea were recalled.

The decision to throw O’Shea back into the heart of the defence meant Jason Denayer was given the task of following Philippe Coutinho wherever he roamed until the Brazilian was stretchered off just after half an hour. It seemed he had taken a bad knock to his ankle.

Coutinho had been lively in the final third without testing Jordan Pickford himself. Pickford was not overly worked but when he was called upon he held first half shots from Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino.

Dejan Lovren missed a free header with half-time approaching from Jordan Henderson’s free-kick to the back post, although arguably the best chance of the opening 45 fell to Sunderland.

An attack broke down initially but the loose ball was fed back into the area and Pienaar was faced with just the keeper to beat. Loris Karius was quick to react and blocked the effort on target.

Moyes’ tactics had worked fine up to that point, with the defensive shape of Sunderland holding firm even if the counter attacks were not as frequent as the minutes ticked by.

Liverpool increased the pressure as soon as the second half started and Sunderland found it much harder to earn some breathing space. Pickford’s net did not bulge, though, with Wijnaldum and Sadio Mane guilty of wasting fantastic chances. Jurgen Klopp then took matters into his own hands by urging the home fans to turn up the noise and Sunderland had to dig deep to keep the Reds at bay.

But they still had a chance or two themselves. Watmore was came closest when he was picked out free in the box, only for Karius to rush out to stop.

However, Liverpool got the break they craved with quarter of an hour remaining. Origi created space for himself on the left to get away from Watmore and his curling right foot shot bounced straight inside the far post.

And Sunderland conceded the second late on when Milner converted from the spot after Didier Ndong had tripped Mane in the area.

LIVERPOOL: Karius; Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner; Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum (Woodburn 90); Mane, Coutinho (Origi 34); Firmino (Lucas 87). Subs: Mignolet (gk), Klavan, Moreno, Ejaria.

SUNDERLAND (4-3-2-1): Pickford; Jones, Kone, O’Shea, van Aanholt; Ndong, Denayer, Pienaar (Januzaj 77); Watmore (Gooch 77), Anichebe; Defoe. Subs: Mannone (gk), Larsson, Khazri, Manquillo, Love.