Sunderland came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Anfield on Saturday afternoon - Jermain Defoe with an 89th minute equaliser.

The Black Cats looked to be condemned to defeat on 70 minutes, Adam Lallana doubling a lead Liverpool had gained through Roberto Firmino, but the visitors continued to fight and scored two goals in the last 10 minutes to secure a draw.

Adam Johnson grabbed the first, a well-executed free-kick squeezing its way in on 81 minutes, before Defoe levelled things up with a strike on the turn in the final minute of the 90.

The result doesn't do much for the visitors in the table, especially after results went against them today, but it's a point more than they had at 3 o'clock and a point more than they had with 20 minutes to go in the game.

Steady start

Both sides came into this game off the back of contrasting results and performances in midweek, and that set the tone for the steady opening stages.

Liverpool were hesitant; patiently knocking the ball about and looking for an opening. Though Jürgen Klopp - missing from the dugout today through illness - wants to play high energy, attacking football, the Reds are a team clearly in transition and still rooted somewhat in the slow, possession based style of former boss, Brendan Rodgers.

Sunderland, on the other hand, looked deadly on the counter. After a positive display against Manchester City, they were confident and not far away from taking the lead early on as Patrick van Aanholt stormed forward and struck just wide of Simon Mignolet's far post. 

The Reds find their feet

However, Liverpool had the first clear cut chance of the game; Lallana slipping in Alberto Moreno. The left-back looked like he'd hit the opener on the 20 minute mark, but Vito Mannone made a vital save with his feet to ensure Sunderland's only setback was a corner that they managed to clear.

Liverpool did start to grow into the game from here too, with chances coming for former Black Cat Jordan HendersonJames Milner and Firmino, but, as usual, the lack of cutting edge in their finishing meant a few lapses from the visitors were not punished in an otherwise strong start to the game.

Former Black Cat, Jordan Henderson, battles with one of Sunderland's new signings, Wahbi Khazri. | Photo: Sunderland AFC
Former Black Cat, Jordan Henderson, battles with one of Sunderland's new signings, Wahbi Khazri. | Photo: Sunderland AFC

The Reds ended the half firmly on the front foot, and they should have gone in a goal up in truth, but Moreno missed what can only be described as a sitter from a few yards out, heading over the bar. As a result, it was goalless at the break, which was perhaps a fair reflection of the game thus far - Sunderland resilient; Liverpool wasteful.

Black Cats finally broken

Sunderland were a little bit more adventurous at the beginning of the second half. They got the ball in Liverpool's half more times in the first five minutes more than they had managed in the entire first half, however, they did nothing with it, whilst the continued attempts to find the small figure of Defoe with long balls remained fruitless.

Instead, Liverpool looked deadly, with some latch ditch blocks required from the Black Cats to keep them at bay. Firmino continued to look the hosts' best bet of a goal and, after a cheeky nutmeg on Jan Kirchhoff, he nearly provided just that, but for his well struck attempt to fizz just wide.

Sunderland's first real threat of the half came just before the hour mark, but it was wasted after poor decision making from Defoe, with him opting to shoot, instead of finding the run of Wahbi Khazri on his left, and dragging his effort wide. 

The England international was left ruing his selfish choice just two minutes later too, with Liverpool going down the other end and putting themselves a goal to the good. It was, unsurprisingly, that man Firmino who hit the back of the net, perfectly heading past Mannone to give his side the advantage.

Liverpool out of second gear

This goal gave Liverpool confidence and relaxed them, which showed in their play. Not long after they had broken the deadlock, Mannone was forced into a terrific double save as the chances started to come thicker and faster.

However, they could have and probably should have been pegged back before the 70 minute mark. Van Aanholt, who has enjoyed a few goals this season, broke into the box well on the left and space opened up for him to strike, but he could only find the sidenetting - to the disbelief of his teammates.

Just as had happened with the opening goal, it was off the back of a golden chance for Sunderland that Liverpool doubled their lead. Following this opportunity for van Aanholt, Lallana made it two at the other end two minutes later after superb and selfless work from Firmino. The Reds were cruising now and, seemingly, out of sight.

Black Cats fight back

Nonetheless, in a scrap for survival, Sunderland were never going to give up.

Johnson came off the bench when they were a goal down and, after they went two down, he was on hand to halve the deficit. He did so in style too, squeezing a free-kick past former Black Cat Mignolet with nine minutes to play and giving his team a lifeline.

This looked to be nothing but a glimmer of hope, that was until Defoe came up with another crucial strike in the final minute of the 90. Despite being tightly marked by Mamadou Sakho, the striker managed to find half a yard to shoot on the turn and he powerfully found the back of the net - to the delight of nearly 2,000 travelling fans.

It was sheer disappointment for the Reds at full time, but absolute delight for Sam Allardyce's men after a brilliant comeback.

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About the author
Ameé Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]