Source: Telegraph
Liverpool 2 Sunderland 2: match report
Steven Gerrard has built his career on disguising the flaws which have scarred Liverpool for so long. He may have earned Roy Hodgson's an ill-deserved point against Sunderland with a finely-taken headed equaliser, but such a task, for now, is beyond even him. [LNB]Gerrard was called to intervene after two Darren Bent strikes cancelled out Dirk Kuyt's opening goal, but that all his side could manage was a draw at home to Sunderland says much of their plight, as did the sight of thousands of fans remaining in situ to protest the continued ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett. [LNB]In such circumstances, where the future of Liverpool itself remains the subject of intense debate, it is perhaps understandable that the team seem so nervous, so uncertain. Here, even being granted a goal head start could not dissipate an air that has endured for a year. [LNB]Perhaps it was poetic justice that Liverpool should have opened the scoring in such freakish fashion. After all, it is almost 12 months since a beach ball condemned former manager Rafael Benitez's side to defeat at the Stadium of Light. [LNB]Sunderland have still not forgotten their glee at that incident - the beach balls dotted around the away end testament to how the moment endures - but Kuyt's goal was every bit as controversial, and just as comic. [LNB]Referee Stuart Attwell, just a moment after ruling out a Fernando Torres strike for the most marginal of offsides, awarded Sunderland a free kick just inside their own half for an apparent foul on Titus Bramble by Raul Meireles. Sunderland sought to restart play too quickly for Attwell's liking, demanding it be returned to Michael Turner. [LNB]In the confusion, the defender seemed to play the ball back to his goalkeeper Simon Mignolet. The pass, though, was far too weak, and Torres pounced, streaking towards the Kop and presenting Kuyt with a simple finish. Sunderland protested, Attwell consulted his linesman, and the goal was allowed to stand. [LNB]No doubt, at that point, the plans were already underway for the cardboard cut-outs of Attwell for the visit to Wearside later this season, a retort to those beach balls. Liverpool, though, did not build on their fortuitous start. Instead, for the second time in four days, they were outplayed and out-thought on their own turf. [LNB]Sunderland used the ball better, attacked with more purpose, played with more poise. Just like Northampton on Wednesday, they came to Anfield and looked like they owned the place. [LNB]Steve Bruce's side deserved Darren Bent' equaliser from the penalty spot, secured after Christian Poulsen handled Ahmed Elmohamady's cross, and, in truth, could consider going level at half-time as scant reward for their efforts. Little matter. The visitors scored immediately afterwards, Bent heading home Onuoha's deep cross. [LNB]For a moment, Liverpool crumbled. Sunderland cut their hosts open at leisure. Hodgson, seated on the bench, cut a disconsolate figure, his players seemed directionless, powerless. [LNB]There was a time when Liverpool would automatically turn to Steven Gerrard at such instances, the club's totem's drive and determination enough on its own to turn however strong a tide. So, too, here, though Gerrard's headed goal owed a great deal to good fortune - Torres's cross was deflected twice on the way to his brow - and could not disguise an otherwise anonymous showing. [LNB]As so often, though, he served to galvanise his side. Suddenly, Liverpool swarmed forward, their momentum not even halted by seeing both Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel badly cut after clashing heads. [LNB]David Ngog was denied by Mignolet, Joe Cole's follow up blocked by Titus Bramble. Gerrard went close once, so too Dirk Kuyt, and, in the extended period of injury time, Turner made up for his earlier error by denying Ngog on the line. [LNB]None of those chances were quite so glaring as the one offered to Daniel Agger just moments before Attwell blew his whistle, though, the Dane heading just wide from Skrtel's flick on.[LNB]
