APPARENTLY Jermain Defoe can’t play up front on his own. That was one of the reasons why he left Tottenham, it was also cited as a reason Dick Advocaat tended to overlook him for a central role during his six month spell in charge at Sunderland.

Even Sam Allardyce showed an initial reluctance to ask him to lead the line when he first took over at the Stadium of Light. They can’t all be wrong, can they?

It would appear so. Coupled with Sunderland’s new January transfer window additions, Defoe is shaping up to be the man most likely to fire Sunderland to safety.

He took his tally for the season to ten goals with the 89th minute equaliser at Liverpool, when Sunderland completed a surprise comeback having trailed by two goals with just eight minutes remaining.

All of Defoe’s goals have arrived when he has played through the middle and Allardyce, a manager renowned for playing with a target-man, hence his early attempts to field Steven Fletcher there, is being rewarded for playing him in his preferred place.

Only Sergio Aguero has scored more than Defoe’s six goals since the turn of the year, while Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy are the two Englishmen playing in the top-flight who have scored more than Sunderland’s No. 18.

His tenth was the sort of quality which has made him one of the Premier League’s most potent scorers for more than a decade.

When Wahbi Khazri played the ball into the striker’s feet in the Liverpool box, Defoe turned Mamadou Sakho before dispatching a lovely finish inside Simon Mignolet’s bottom right hand corner.

That completed a comeback which earned the point, seven minutes after Adam Johnson’s curling free-kick crept inside Mignolet’s near post when the former Sunderland goalkeeper should have saved it.

Defoe’s goal return this season begs the question why he spent much of 2015 either playing on the wing or sitting on the bench under three different managers – Gus Poyet, Advocaat and then Allardyce. Would Sunderland still occupy a bottom three place had he started up front more often?

Defoe said: “The old manager used to play me on the left. I have never played there during my whole career, never even at school. That was a bit strange, playing as a full-back when you have always been a forward.

“This manager has come in and even though I had never played under him he knows me. He is an experienced manager, but at the end of the day you still have to score the chances.

“I can’t keep dwelling on where I was playing. That was at the beginning of the season. It was frustrating. You know when you play your whole career as a forward, I am a No 9, then all of a sudden I was being asked to play a role I had never played before …

“At times it was frustrating but I always tried to work hard for the team. It wasn’t my natural game. It takes away chances of getting goals; chasing full-backs means you will not get chances.”

Liverpool’s dominance for an hour, even though they had hardly tested goalkeeper Vito Mannone until the excellent Roberto Firmino was allowed to head in James Milner’s cross in the 59th minute, meant Defoe hardly got a touch in the final third.

And yet whenever he did receive possession Liverpool – who had to play without head coach Jurgen Klopp dishing out the orders after he was struck down with appendicitis - were wary and nervy, which is exactly what Sakho was when he stood off the 33-year-old striker in the closing stages.

Defoe’s return to form has even led to questions about a recall to the England Euro 2016 squad. He said: “I am not fully focused on it. All I can do is keep playing well to try to get some goals. I am not totally focused on the Euros. I am totally focused on playing for my club and the rest will take care of itself.”

What Defoe wants is to ensure Sunderland continue to improve at a time when they remain four points adrift of safety and Manchester United are next up at the Stadium of Light this Saturday.

Sunderland – still to win at Anfield in the league since 1983 - showed the strength of character at Liverpool which will be needed in every game if they are to stay up. After Firmino’s headed opener, the Brazilian teed up Adam Lallana 11 minutes later once he had robbed Billy Jones deep in the visitors’ half.

Defoe said: “If you are 2-0 down at Anfield and you come back to get a point then everyone rightly is delighted. At that point we thought we could win. Liverpool are a good side.

“It has been such a long season, the new manager has changed a lot. The intensity we play at, the fitness levels look a lot sharper than earlier in the season. We have looked a lot fitter in the games with Man City and Liverpool. This almost feels like a win.”

Sunderland’s late comeback arrived shortly after thousands of Liverpool fans staged a walk-out for the first time in the club’s history in protest at an increase in season ticket prices next season when they open the new main stand.

Liverpool’s players will say that the mood inside Anfield didn’t affect the outcome of the game, Allardyce admitted afterwards he felt it did even though he didn’t take much notice himself.

Defoe, who helped Sunderland score for the eighth consecutive away game for the first time since 1964, said: “What can you say about the fans at Liverpool, they are fantastic. I have always enjoyed playing at Anfield even though I have never played for that club.

“I don’t think I noticed it that much. When you are focused on the game, you don’t really take much notice. You have to just get on with it - and we did.”