Source: Northern_Echo
Liverpool 2 Sunderland 2
Sunderland last won at Liverpool in 1983 - a time when Liverpool were regarded as the best team in Europe and their supporters laughed along to the jokes of Jimmy Tarbuck.[LNB] On Saturday, however, the mass demonstrations against the club's American owners made it quite clear how far Liverpool's stock has fallen, although the Anfield crowd still enjoy a giggle - at an erratic refereeing display.[LNB] It ensured the Black Cats would go another season without a win on the Red side of the Mersey.[LNB] For the record, neither Tarbuck nor the referee were funny.[LNB] It is a shame the Wearsiders' performance at Liverpool will be overshadowed by Stuart Attwell's ineptitude as the team deserved to break that long losing sequence which stretches back 27 years.[LNB] A point was welcome but three would have been more justified after a superb all-round team performance.[LNB] Aside from the opening five and the final ten minute when the home side enjoyed the better of the possession, the visitors bossed their more illustrious opponents on their own patch and should have come away with a famous victory.[LNB] Instead Steve Bruce's side has been left to reflect on what might have been if a more experienced match official had been in charge.[LNB] The Black Cats boss has been in control at the Stadium of Light for a little over 15 months but in that brief time you can see the seeds of a renaissance emerging from the crop.[LNB] A victory over Manchester City and draws with Arsenal and Liverpool, three of the so-called big five, already show the team is growing. And, while it would be churlish to point out individuals, five Black Cats have been colossal in the side's rebirth this term.[LNB] Titus Bramble put behind a week to forget with yet another commanding display at centre back, while, in midfield, Jordan Henderson, Lee Cattermole and Steed Malbranque largely nullified any threat posed by a Liverpool side, which included the exceptional talents of Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard.[LNB] Cole was unusually withdrawn, while Gerrard was rather sterile, until he redeemed himself in the latter stages.[LNB] The Sunderland boss believed his midfield destroyer, Cattermole, was largely responsible for cancelling the threat posed by the more glamorous counterparts.[LNB] He said: "I thought he was absolutely immense by the way.[LNB] "It has been a tough few weeks for him but we've seen Lee Cattermole for his best today. When he plays like that you can see why I've made him captain and why he has such an effect on the team."[LNB] While Bruce hailed Cattermole's influence on the proceedings, two goal hero Darren Bent picked out Steed Malbranque, who has been a revelation since moving inside from the wings.[LNB] "He's quality. My dad, he's a real football man and he's always talking to me about Steed, saying he can do so much damage when he plays down the middle," said the 26-year-old striker.[LNB] "He's probably been our best player in the last three or four games. He's been like a new signing."[LNB] But then how could you ignore the predatory instincts of Bent, who powered a penalty under Pepe Reina in the first half before heading a second after the break to claim his fourth and fifth Premier League goals of the season.[LNB] He now has eight goals this term, which include two in the Carling Cup and one for England.[LNB] Bent has missed the odd penalty or three since swapping north London for the North-East but he showed his mettle once again to net from the spot when under intense pressure.[LNB] Players with less bottle would have passed on the responsibility. And was he afraid he might miss his latest spot kick challenge[LNB] "Yeah, because Reina's one of the best in the business when it comes to saving penalties, admitted Bent. "So you have to hit it true or he's going to save it. I hit it as hard as I could and luckily enough it ended up in the back of the net.[LNB] "I'm trying to carry on from last year. Nedum Onouha put a great ball in (for Sunderland's second goal) and it was just about me getting in the right place at the right time. Luckily enough I did.[LNB] "Conceding the goal when we did (after five minutes) was a bit disappointing but we showed our spirit and we got the result in the end.[LNB] "Certainly this should give us confidence. We've got another big one next week, hopefully we can take our form into the Manchester United game, which should be fun."[LNB] Bent could be right, of course, although the fun would stop if Attwell is assigned the game.[LNB] MATCHFACTS[LNB] Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Kuyt (5, slid home from 10 yards after being set up by Torres)[LNB] 1-1: Bent penalty (27, blast past Reina, after Poulson handles Elmohamady cross)[LNB] 1-2: Bent (47, the striker headed home from close range following Onuoha cross)[LNB] 2-2: Gerrard(64, headed past Mignolet from six yards from Torres cross[LNB] Bookings: Torres (59, foul), Kuyt (60, foul), Gerrard 75, foul), Mignolet (90, time wasting)[LNB] Referee: Stuart Attwell (Nuneaton): The most inept referee in the top flight. Never has the phrase "where's your specs ref" been more justified 2[LNB] Attendance: 43,626[LNB] Entertainment: ****[LNB] Liverpool (4-5-1): Reina 6; Johnson 5, Carragher 5, Skrtel 6, Konchesky 4 (Agger 28, 6); Kuyt 7, Meireles 4, Poulsen 4 (Ngog, 61, 4) , Cole 5, Gerrard 7, Torres 7. Subs (not used): Jones (gk), Kyrgiakos, Babel, Lucas, Jovanovic, Rodriguez[LNB] Sunderland (4-5-1):[LNB] 6 Mignolet; Handling and shotstopping generally good and no chance with goals[LNB] 7 Onuoha: A superb delivery to set up Bent's second goal[LNB] 6 Turner: Aside from the mix-up for the first goal was solid throughout[LNB] 8 Bramble: Unaffected by his off the field antics[LNB] 7 Bardsley; An admirable display playing out of position[LNB] 7 Elmohamady: Neat and tidy and complemented Onuoha and Henderson[LNB] 8 Cattermole: Totally bossed the ball so much that you thought he would take it home afterwards[LNB] 8 Henderson: Played like a veteran and not overawed by reputations of Gerrard and Kuyt[LNB] 8 MALBRANQUE: Must have the genetics of a bee. Never stopped buzzing across the midfield all game[LNB] 7 Welbeck; Effort and work rate could not be faulted[LNB] 8 Bent: Two chances and two goals. A natural goalscorer[LNB] Subs[LNB] Gyan (for Welbeck 82)[LNB] Riveros (for Malbranque 88)[LNB] Zenden (for Bent 90)[LNB] (not used): Gordon (gk), Da Silva, Colback, Reid,[LNB] Man of the MatchSTEED MALBRANQUE - Industrious and inventive. He must have an extra lung for given the amount of work he got through.[LNB]
