Hello, and welcome to today’s liveblog.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.
You may need to refresh the page for YouTube videos and other elements to display correctly.
Here are today’s teams…
We’re underway…
Unsurprisingly, Sunderland have set up quite cautiously.
David Moyes’ side will start with a 4-5-1 formation, with Jermain Defoe as the lone striker.
Victor Anichebe, predominantly a striker, starts on the left.
Coutinho dribbles menacingly towards goal, but Kone makes a good tackle to stop him.
Moments later, Firmino has a pot shot that Pickford saves comfortably.
This looks like it won’t be easy for Liverpool — they look well organised at the back.
At times, this match resembles an attack-v-defence training session.
Liverpool are dominating possession and territory, but certainly have got plenty of bodies behind the ball, with the hosts yet to create a clear-cut chance.
As I type, Mane is well positioned down the right wing, but Pienaar gets back well to make an interception.
Steven Gerrard is at Anfield, as is Liverpool’s owner John W Henry.
Wijnaldum turns on the edge of the box and shoots, but Pickford saves with relative ease.
Down the other end, Jermaine Defoe, who has seven goals this season, is looking lively.
As I type, a long ball by Jones sends Pienaar through on goal, but Karius stays big and makes a good save.
Firmino beats his man to create half a yard of space, but then shoots well over from the edge of the box.
Liverpool are looking a little short of ideas right now and have been mainly restricted to pot shots.
Mane makes a threatening run on the counter attack.
He seems unsure whether to cross or shoot and ends up doing a mixture of both, with Pickford collecting the ball easily as a result.
Watmore breaks but his touch is heavy and Lovren comfortably takes the ball off him.
Sunderland have so far lacked the composure necessary to hurt Liverpool on the counter attack.
As I type, Defoe bursts through and goes down under a challenge from Matip, but the referee waves play on.
Judging by replays, it would have been a very soft decision if it was awarded, as Defoe went down quite easily.
Unfortunate news for Liverpool! Coutinho has come off badly following an innocuous-seeming challenge by Ndong.
His right foot is being strapped up, so it could well be a metatarsal injury.
The Brazilian international is replaced by Divock Origi.
Henderson lofts a free kick into the box and an unmarked Lovren heads wide.
That’s the first real let-off for Sunderland today.
As we approach half-time, there’s no sign of the pattern of this game changing.
Liverpool continue to boss the ball, but look incapable of breaking Sunderland down at the moment.
The Black Cats, meanwhile, are largely relying on quick goal kicks up to Defoe, Watmore and Anichebe, hoping they’ll ultimately benefit from the ball breaking in their favour.
Liverpool’s attack hasn’t necessarily been weakened by Origi’s arrival.
The striker has given the Reds more of a physical presence in the final third.
Meanwhile, Can has headed wide as Liverpool continue the arduous task of trying to break down this well-drilled Sunderland side.
Shortly thereafter, Lovren drills a powerful shot from distance well wide.
HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-0 SUNDERLAND
The second half is underway…
Clyne finds himself in a promising position inside the box, but his touch is heavy, and O’Shea does well to shepherd the ball out of player.
Moments later, Mane has a chance on the edge of the box but scuffs his shot.
Klopp, in the meantime, encourages the crowd to make themselves heard.
Can plays a lovely lofted through ball to Wijnaldum, who drills a shot across the box.
Milner is inches away from getting on the end of it, but the ball ultimately goes harmlessly out of play.
It’s three-on-three as Sunderland break but Van Aanholt’s pass is dire, and Liverpool reclaim possession once more.
Again, the Black Cats lack the composure necessary at the vital moment in attack.
Jurgen Klopp is trying to get the crowd going.
The German boss doesn’t seem too happy with the fans, many of whom groan audibly after Jordan Henderson misplaces a pass.
Klopp’s enthusiasm actually seems to have worked, as the home supporters are singing loudly now.
The ball falls to Can on the edge of the box, and the German international shoots just wide.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, Liverpool are getting closer.
Big chance for Sunderland!
Watmore finds himself through on goal, but Karius gets down well to make a good save.
Down the other end, Firmino shoots across goal, but no one is correctly placed to get on the end of it.
It may be 0-0, but this has been an increasingly entertaining game.
Liverpool are really stepping up the pressure now.
A set piece falls to Mane, whose shot from close range is well blocked by Denayer.
LIVERPOOL 1-0 SUNDERLAND (ORIGI 75)
What a goal from the substitute!
Origi beats Watmore, and with several players waiting for a cross in the box, he manages to somehow curl the ball past Pickford from a difficult angle.
Sunderland turn to the bench in reaction to that Liverpool goal.
Gooch and Januzaj replace Watmore and Pienaar.
Firmino has now gone down injured.
He looks like he’ll be okay, thankfully for Liverpool fans.
Liverpool have retained their positive play despite going a goal up and are pushing for a second goal now.
Sunderland, meanwhile, are being forced to play with a little more ambition now.
Can storms forward and his shot goes narrowly wide via a van Aanholt deflection.
Meanwhile, Firmino walks off gingerly and is replaced by Lucas, as Liverpool hint for the first time that they are content to hold on for a 1-0 win.
PENALTY FOR LIVERPOOL!
LIVERPOOL 2-0 SUNDERLAND (MILNER 90)
Game over for Sunderland!
Mane wins the penalty, sprinting down the right before a rash challenge from Ndong takes him down.
Milner subsequently sends the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Ben Woodburn replaces Wijnaldum for the final few seconds.
FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 SUNDERLAND
Right, that’s all from me as Liverpool earn a deserved win over a Sunderland side that defended manfully, but ultimately weren’t quite good enough to keep Liverpool out.
Thanks for reading and commenting, and we’ll have more reaction shortly.
