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Liverpool stutter at Sunderland
- Updated: January 2, 2017
Liverpool missed the chance to close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea as they were held to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Sunderland.
Daniel Sturridge headed only his second Premier League goal of the season to hand the Merseysiders the lead on 19 minutes, but they were pegged back within six minutes as Jermain Defoe converted a penalty after Ragnar Klavan’s foul on Didier Ndong.
Sadio Mane put a dominant Liverpool side ahead on 72 minutes but he soon turned to villain, blocking a Sebastian Larsson free-kick with his arm to hand Sunderland a second penalty.
Defoe made no mistake from 12 yards for the second time as the hosts claimed a vital point in their battle to avoid the drop – the Black Cats are now one point from safety.
For Liverpool, who saw their four-game winning streak end, they remain second, five points adrift of Chelsea having played a game more.
Liverpool made the start you would expect from a team in their league position, dominating the opening exchanges, but it was the hosts who created the first opening on six minutes as Defoe’s 25-yard drive called Simon Mignolet into action.
His opposite number was then tested twice in the space of a minute, first to deny Sturridge’s low effort before Georginio Wijnaldum’s curling shot was tipped over.
Mignolet was alert to keep Jack Rodwell’s 13th-minute snap shot out, before Mannone was on hand to thwart Sturridge’s curling, …
