Liverpool moved to within four points of the Champions League places courtesy of a 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light this afternoon.
Lazar Markovic got the only goal of the game after just nine minutes when he poked the ball under the keeper from close range.
Both sides hit the woodwork during the match, while the hosts were forced to play most of the second half with 10 men after Liam Bridcutt was shown a second yellow card.
Read how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's live minute-by-minute coverage below.
Good morning! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for the early Saturday kickoff between Sunderland and Liverpool. The Premier League is back following the FA Cup break, and both of these sides will fancy their chances of picking up a win today, so we should have an interesting game on our hands.
We'll start with a look at the hosts, who have been very inconsistent so far this season. Gus Poyet's side have averaged a point per game, which may not be enough to keep them up at the end of the season, despite them currently sitting three points cleat of the drop zone. The 40-point mark is usually what clubs at the bottom aspire to, and Sunderland are currently not on course for that.
Winning matches has been the main problem for the Black Cats this season. They have only emerged victorious three times so far, which is the joint lowest tally in the division. However, such is their draw speciality that only Chelsea, the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal have lost fewer games than Sunderland, who have shared the spoils 11 times in their 20 outings.
As that suggests, inconsistency has been the major issue for the Black Cats this season, and that is perhaps best summed up by the fact that they beat rivals Newcastle away from home recently, only to lose at home to Hull the next week. That victory over the Magpies is their only win in their last 10 Premier League games.
They have had a tough run in that time, however, and they will be glad to end that soon. They have played Everton, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City twice recently, while Spurs await in their next Premier League outing. They have taken points off Chelsea, Liverpool and Everton, however, so they will be confident that they can raise their game again in the next two matches.
Gus Poyet saw his side progress to the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over Leeds United last time out, with Patrick van Aanholt scoring the only goal of the game. Poyet was still not happy, however, saying that his side should have scored more goals - an accusation that has been levelled at them all season. They have failed to score in nine of their 20 outings, while only Burnley and Aston Villa have scored fewer in the top flight this season.
Home form is a major issue for Sunderland, who have only won one Premier League game in front of their own fans all season. They have, however, played most of the top teams at home throughout the first half of the season, so their form at the Stadium of Light is expected to improve. As it stands, though, only two clubs have amassed fewer points at home.
That will certainly please a Liverpool side that has struggled to score goals this season, particularly compared to the last campaign. It is Steven Gerrard who has got their last four, and this is the first league game for Liverpool since the skipper announced that he is leaving the club. A first Premier League title is already out of reach for the 34-year-old, but he will want to have a strong second half of the season.
Victory for Liverpool today would bring them to within four points of the Champions League places for a few hours at least, although that could have been even better had they beaten Leicester on New Year's Day. The league's bottom club recovered from two goals down to earn a point, which could prove costly for Liverpool in the grand scheme of things.
While performances and results have not been great so far, Liverpool do come into this match having not lost in their last six games in all competitions. There were certainly signs of improvement towards the end of last year and, while the Leicester draw was disappointing and the Wimbledon win was far from convincing, Rodgers will be confident that his side can push on for the top four over the coming months.
Victory today would be the perfect way to start that, and they have been in good form on the road recently. They have won four of their last five away games having only won two of their first nine before that. Only one of their away wins has come against a side not in the bottom five, however, so they do have problems beating bigger teams on the road right now.
Interestingly, Liverpool are yet to draw a game away from home this season, while Sunderland are the league's draw specialists with 11. The Reds are one of only two teams in the entire Football League to have not draw a game away from home this season, with the other been QPR. You'd say that both clubs would be content with a point today, though.
TEAM NEWS: The teams are in for both sides, and the big news for Liverpool is that Borini leads the line, with Sterling not in the squad. That is one of two changes for the visitors, while Sunderland make four changes as Wes Brown, Sebastian Larsson, Adam Johnson and Connor Wickham are all recalled.
SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon; Vergini, van Aanholt, O'Shea, Brown; Bridcutt, Larsson, Gomez, Johnson, Giaccherini; Wickham
SUNDERLAND SUBS: Jones, Graham, Alvarez, Buckley, Mandron, Agnew, Mannone
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Can, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard, Markovic, Coutinh; Borini
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Ward, Enrique, Lovren, Lambert, Manquillo, Balotelli, Rossiter
It is no surprise to see Poyet make a few changes to his side from the FA Cup win over Leeds, but it is also no surprise to see the scorer of the only goal in that game, Patrick van Aanholt, continue at left-back. He was a real danger in that match and will look to take advantage of the space behind Liverpool's wing-backs today.
Costel Pantilimon resumes in goal, and the Reds will have a tough time getting past the big keeper today. Since he replaced Vito Mannone, he has kept six clean sheets in 12 outings and has the best saves-per-shot record in the entire league having kept out 78% of the efforts he has faced.
Further forward, there is no Fletcher for the host today, but Wickham starts having done his best to help Liverpool to the title at the end of last season with goals against their fellow contenders. Adam Johnson has also been in decent form lately so will fancy his chances of getting a goal, while Giaccherini scored in the corresponding fixture last season, albeit in a 3-1 defeat.
They will be looking to get past former Sunderland player Mignolet this afternoon as the keeper retains his place in the side due to the injury to Brad Jones. There has been a lot of speculation around Mignolet's future recently, with Liverpool expected to bring in a keeper this month, so this could be one of his last chances to prove himself in a Liverpool shirt.
Liverpool are expected to play three at the back once again this afternoon, with Can filling in as a third centre-back as he has done the last few games. Lovren still only makes the bench, however, with Skrtel and Sakho the other two central defenders trusted by Rodgers here.
There is a start in midfield for Gerrard, who already has four goals to his name in 2015 courtesy of braces in his last two games. This is his first league game since his announcement that he will leave the club at the end of the season, and he is sure to get a rousing welcome from the away fans at least today. His form has been hit and miss this season, but he will still leave a huge gap in the Liverpool team when he does leave.
Up front, Borini leads the line against the club he represented on loan last season and almost joined in the summer. Balotelli and Lambert are only deemed good enough for the bench, however, while Sterling - who has played in the central striking role recently - misses out entirely.
PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at the Stadium of Light, which means that it is time for a prediction! Sunderland are the draw specialists of the league and, while Liverpool are yet to draw away from home, I can see this one being a bit of a stalemate. Sunderland are good at frustrating the big teams, so I'll go for a 1-1 draw.
We were all agreed on the Sports Mole sofa this week, with both backing a draw. Watch our video preview of the game below:
Liverpool voast the better record in this fixture having not lost any of the last five meetings, winning three and drawing two. Indeed, they have only lost one of the last 10 clashes, while Sunderland have only won one of the last four at the Stadium of Light.
Daniel Sturridge is nearing his long-awaited return from injury, but once again he is absent today. He scored in the corresponding fixture last season, while he and Suarez have combined for nine of the last 11 goals against Sunderland.
KICKOFF: Sunderland get us underway at a windy Stadium of Light in what is a big match for both sides.
PENALTY SHOUT! Liverpool have a big shout for a penalty early on, and I'm not quite sure how Craig Pawson hasn't given it! The ball was slid through for Markovic, who skipped beyond Brown before being brought down. However, the referee refuses to point to the spot.
Sunderland started on the front foot in this match, but Liverpool have settled in the last few minutes and are enjoying more of the ball right now. Sunderland are reluctant to come out of their own half when the visitors are in possession.
It looks like Sunderland are set up to frustrate Liverpool when the visitors have the ball, as expected. They are getting plenty of bodies behind the ball and are keeping their shape well so far.
GOAL! Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool (Lazar Markovic)
Liverpool have the lead and, after being denied a penalty earlier in the game, it is Markovic who gets it. He collects the ball on the edge of the box following a good advantage from Pawson, driving into the area before poking it past Pantilimon to give his side the advantage.
How can Sunderland respond, then? They have not lost many games this season but find themselves behind early on here, and they will need to show more in the attacking third if they are to get back into this game.
Larsson has the chance to test Mignolet in the blustery conditions with a free kick, but his effort is a little tame and easy for the keeper. He may have been better served hanging that up in the middle considering the wind here.
Sunderland are struggling to get into any sort of rhythm in these early stages. They started on the front foot but have not been able to offer anything going forward since then.
YELLOW CARD! Borini is the first in the book for a late challenge on Giaccherini, and he has no complaints.
Coutinho has looked bright when has been on the ball so far. He has played a couple of clever through-balls already, with Borini proving a willing runner to get on the end of them.
Liverpool are looking composed and in control right now, keeping the ball well and dictating the tempo of the game. However, their defence has been so leaky this season that a one-goal lead is no guarantee whatsoever.
Sunderland are keeping their shape when Liverpool have possession, but they could do with putting a bit more pressure on the visitors. Liverpool look very comfortable right now.
SHOT! Gerrard looks to place a shot into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, but his effort deflects narrowly wide. Liverpool work the resulting corner nicely, but Gerrard can't connect properly with the ball and the hosts are able to clear.
A better spell of possession for the hosts, but it is still coming in front of the Liverpool defence. They have not troubled Mignolet at all so far and are getting no joy in the final third right now.
YELLOW CARD! Vergini goes into the book for blocking Moreno, but he can feel very harshly done by. It was good defending for me, but Liverpool now have a free kick in a good crossing position.
SAVE! Gerrard looks to take Pantilimon by surprise, but the keeper reacts to push the ball over the top for a corner.
OFF THE POST! Almost a superb strike from Markovic to double his side's lead! The winger adjusts his body superbly to fashion a volley from the edge of the box, and his effort crashes off the woodwork before hitting Pantilimon and going away from danger.
Markovic is looking bright today and Sunderland have struggled to contain him so far. He should have had an early penalty, but has since gone on to score the goal and hit the woodwork.
Good play from Mignolet as he comes off his line to punch a corner to safety. The conditions make every cross a test for both keepers, but the Liverpool number one has passed his first major one there.
YELLOW CARD! Bridcutt becomes the third player in the book in this first half due to a trip on Gerrard in midfield.
YELLOW CARD! That is swiftly followed by another card, this time for Coutinho as he stood in front of Vergini when the defender looked to take an early free kick.
Henderson smashes an effort off the post, but it wouldn't have counted even if it had gone in. Coutinho was the architect again, floating a ball over to the midfielder, who chested it down before firing his shot against the woodwork.
CLOSE! Gerrard looks to keep up his recent good scoring form by breaking forward and lashing an effort towards goal from the right channel, but it slams into the side-netting.
SAVE! Another chance for Gerrard, but this time he is denied by the keeper. The ball arrived to the skipper on the edge of the box, but his effort was tame and comfortable for Pantilimon.
Liverpool have certainly had the better of this first half, preventing Sunderland from getting into any sort of rhythm while also keeping the ball well themselves.
CHANCE! Liverpool have a golden chance to double their lead just before half time! Borini races on to a through-ball and gets there before the keeper, taking it past Pantilimon. However, he can't squeeze it in from a tight angle, putting his effort into the side-netting.
There will be a minimum of two minutes added time at the end of this first half.
HALF TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool
The referee brings an end to the first half, and it is Liverpool who go into the break with a deserved lead at the break. The visitors created by far the better chances and also restricted Sunderland to very little joy in the final third throughout the opening 45 minutes.
The goal came through Lazar Markovic, who was the standout performer of the first half. He poked the ball home after Gerrard and Borini linked up to find the winger breaking into the box. It was not the tidiest of goals he will score in his career, but he persisted well and got his reward in the end.
Markovic also came the closest to getting a second goal with a tremendous effort from the edge of the box as he adjusted his body to fashion a volley. His strike had Pantilimon beaten, but the woodwork came to Sunderland's rescue as it crashed off the post.
Markovic was involved in a another big incident in that first half when he went down under the challenge of Wes Brown inside the area. Craig Pawson refused to point at the spot when he should have in the opening exchanges, and that was the major error of what has been a poor half for the referee.
Sunderland have been poor themselves so far, offering nothing in the final third and allowing Liverpool to control the game here. They need to improve in the second half, and Poyet must have given them a stern talking-to at the break.
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us underway for the second half, and the visitors have made a change at the break with Gerrard being replaced by Lovren due to an injury.
SHOT! An early shooting opportunity for Liverpool as a corner is only cleared as far as Markovic, who fires his effort a yard or so wide of the post.
RED CARD! Liam Bridcutt (Sunderland)
Sunderland's task has just got a lot harder! The hosts are reduced to 10 men as Bridcutt trips Can as the midfielder was bursting forward, picking up a second yellow card as a result.
Liverpool, incidentally, have not lost any of their last 64 matches in which they have been leading at half time, so it was already a tough enough test for the Black Cats without that red card. A second goal for Liverpool could well kill things off here.
OFF THE BAR! The hosts are inches away from levelling things up! Adam Johnson picks the ball up around 25 yards from goal and unleashes a swerving effort that leaves Mignolet nonplussed as to which way the ball is going. It crashes off the underside of the bar and bounces down off Mignolet and away.
YELLOW CARD! Henderson is the latest player in the book for a cynical trip on Johnson.
YELLOW CARD! Lovren swiftly follows him into the book, and the half-time sub can have no complaints. He lunged in on Van Aanholt, who just got to the ball first.
Interestingly, Sunderland have actually been better since they were reduced to 10 men. It seems to have been a galvanising effect on the hosts, who are beginning to pose a threat in the final third.
The ball is lashed at Coutinho from a free kick as the Brazilian was trying to retreat, leading Sunderland to call for a red card. However, Craig Pawson is having none of it, and rightly so. That would have been a very harsh one.
Markovic has switched from the right wing-back role to a more central position since Gerrard was taken off at half time, with Can playing on the flank right now. The goalscorer has not been as involved since the break, though.
Good work from Lovren as he steps out of defence before sliding a ball through for Can. He gets behind his full-back momentarily but can only force a corner.
Sunderland rallied immediately after the red card, but Liverpool have quelled that now and have started to take control of the match again. They have had 81% of the possession in the last five minutes.
SHOT! Coutinho almost catches the keeper out with a snapshot, firing a low effort a yard or so past the post from outside the area.
LIVERPOOL SUB: Mario Balotelli is going to get a cameo here as he replaces Borini for the final 20 minutes or so.
Balotelli, looking for his first Premier League goal for Liverpool, lines up a free kick from 30 yards, but smashes it straight into the wall before seeing a second effort blocked.
SAVES! Pantilimon is called into action twice in quick succession as first Balotelli turns nicely before being denied by the keeper from a tight angle. Moments later it is Coutinho who goes for goal, but again the keeper saves it.
Liverpool could really do with a second goal here. They have looked fairly sturdy at the back so far but have not been convincing defensively this season, so Sunderland will fancy their chances of getting a few opportunities yet.
One such opportunity almost falls to O'Shea as he tries to hook an effort towards goal from inside the six-yard box. The ball was knocked down into a dangerous area from a corner, but O'Shea just couldn't connect and Mignolet gathers the ball.
SHOT! Another effort from Coutinho as he comes forward from midfield, but once again he drags his effort wide of the mark.
SUNDERLAND SUBS: A double change for the hosts as Will Buckley and Danny Graham replace Giaccherini and Wickham.
Liverpool come forward again, this time down the left flank. Balotelli makes a good run to the near post, but his subsequent header is nowhere near testing the keeper.
Really bright play from Markovic as he beats three men to make it down to the byline. However, he then squares up Brown and leaves enough time for Johnson to get back, allowing Sunderland the chance to crowd him out.
SHOT! Liverpool win a free kick in a decent area and, with Gerrard on the bench, it is Henderson to takes it. However, he curls his effort over the bar, with Pantilimon not worried about that one at all.
Balotelli looks to be the wrong side of the defence and is about to race clear, but he slips at a vital moment. It draws delighted cheers from the home fans, while Balotelli himself continues to be frustrated.
Time is running out for Sunderland here, and they are showing very few signs of fighting back right now. They need a spark from somewhere as right now Liverpool are looking comfortable.
SUNDERLAND SUB: One final throw of the dice from Poyet, and it is an interesting one. Johnson makes way, with Mikael Mandron coming on in his place.
Still the ball is in the Sunderland half, and the hosts can't get hold of it right now. Liverpool are doing exactly what they need to do right now.
Sunderland have three minutes of added time to rescue something from this match.
CHANCE! A decent opening for the hosts as Buckley holds off a couple of challenges down the right before getting a cross into the middle. Mandron beats Lovren to the ball, but his header is well off target.
FULL TIME: Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool
Liverpool do indeed hold out for the victory, moving to within four points of the the top four courtesy of a 1-0 win over Sunderland. The hosts never really got going, and in the end couldn't fight back having seen Bridcutt receive his marching orders early in the second half.
It was Markovic who got the only goal of the game, poking home after Gerrard and Borini had combined to set the winger up. He also hit the woodwork in the first half, while Johnson rattled the crossbar with a swerving effort in the second period.
Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's early kickoff as Liverpool move to within four points of the Champions League places with victory over Sunderland. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction, analysis and player ratings. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Barney Corkhill
