There are moments at the end
of every season when on reflection the opportunities missed come home to roost. Burnley, Bournemouth and now Sunderland. Yet again we somehow managed to throw away an
opportunity to get within three points of Chelsea against a Sunderland side who
had just been thrashed by Burnley and were barely able to put out a fit eleven.
Liverpool’s kind hearted
nature extended to the New Year’s celebrations resulting in Sunderland not only
gaining confidence, but igniting the Stadium of Light to act as the twelve man.
Surprisingly, having beaten
Man City just two days previously, Jürgen Klopp decided to go with Daniel
Sturridge as his only change with Jordan Henderson, reckoned to be out for
around 10 days. Sturridge and the inform
Origi seemed the more likely option in a move back to the more conventional
four-four-two formation, but Klopp is nothing if not unpredictable.
During the first-half
Liverpool looked wary, as if the lactic acid had yet to dissipate from
Saturday.
In saying that Liverpool
hoovered up 71 per cent possession in the match and looked to be easing towards
yet another win after regaining the lead following Sadie Mane’s tap-in ghosting
in on the far post mid-way through the second-half.
The first-half looked to be
going just as expected when Daniel Sturridge reacted first amongst the
statuesque Sunderland bodies, to divert Lovren's miscued shot to head home for
his second Premier League goal of the season and second in his last two games.
Liverpool whether it was the
thought of conserving energy or just the mind-set of playing an inferior
opponent sat back allowing Sunderland to harry and press.
The lead lasted barely 6
minutes. The almost sedate way in which Wjnaldum almost apologetically waved Didier
Ndong by to attack Klavan, who looked ponderous in bringing down the midfielder.
Jermain Defoe, the home teams only real outlet dispatched easily into the
corner of the net.
Sunderland goalkeeper
Mannone reeled of a plethora of top quality saves to deny Sturridge, Firmino
and Can. But, Liverpool pressure finally
broke through with Mane. We held the
lead comfortably until 6 minutes to go when with the ball seemingly about to be
gobbled up by Mignolet behind him, Mane, on the end of the wall decided show
his manager he was quite capable of playing in goal by punching the ball away
and gifting Sunderland a penalty. His going away present before the African Cup
of Nations, just to the wrong team.
Jermain Defoe did the rest
from the spot leaving Liverpool to rue and another missed opportunity.
Man of the match: Daniel Sturridge – looked in cruise control,
creating chances with a drop of the shoulder or a step over. His goal looked easy, but was pure striker’s
instinct to anticipate the direction of the ball then head it back into the
opposite direction into the far post.
Critical eye: Possible a lack of experience (two games in two days)
led Klopp to ask his players how they felt rather than rotate his team. One wonders why Origi, Stewart and Lucas
among others hadn’t started, but Liverpool came with 6 minutes of normal time
of winning. Inopportune defensive
mistakes are costing Klopp’s side and unless they eradicate these blunders
quickly a top four position could be under threat.
Teams:
Sunderland: 1 Mannone, 22 Love, 16 O’Shea, 5 Djilobodji, 3 van
Aanholt, 9 Borini, 17 Ndong, 8 Rodwell (Manquillo – 65 mins), 7 Larsson, 44
Januzaj (Khazri – 79 mins), 18 Defoe
Subs: 10 Khazri, 12 Mika, 21 Maquillo, 35 Maja, 39 Honeyman, 40 Embeton,
43 Ledger
Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 2 Clyne, 6 Lovren, 17 Klavan, 7 Milner
(Moreno – 45 mins), 20 Lallana, 23 Can, 5 Wijnaldum (Origi – 73 mins), 19 Mane,
15 Sturridge (Lucas – 80 mins), 11 Firmino
Subs: 1 Karius, 18 Moreno, 21 Lucas, 27 Origi, 35 Stewart, 53
Ejaria, 66 Alexander-Arnold
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 46, 494
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