Hello, and welcome to our liveblog of Liverpool versus Sunderland.

Here are the teams:

Sunderland: Mignolet, Gardner, Cuellar, O’Shea, Rose, Larsson, Colback, Cattermole, McClean, Sessegnon, Fletcher. Subs: Westwood, Campbell, Kilgallon, Ji, Meyler, Bramble, Saha.

Liverpool: Reina, Kelly, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, Shelvey, Borini, Suarez, Sterling. Subs: Jones, Jose Enrique, Sahin, Assaidi, Henderson, Downing, Carragher.

And we’re underway…

Understandably, there is a somewhat sombre atmosphere, owing to the well-documented events during the week.

Plans are apparently in place for Liverpool fans to sing a rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ on six minutes – the time when the game at Hillsborough all those years ago had to be abandoned.

It’ll be interesting to see how Ireland internationals James McClean and John O’Shea get on today.

Keiren Westwood is also on the bench for Sunderland.

Six minutes have passed and there’s no sign of the mooted mass singing of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.

It appears ESPN and the internet rumours were wrong.

The game has yet to develop much of a rhythm yet and there’s been minimal goalmouth action so far.

Neither side have started the season in a particularly confident fashion and the opening few minutes are perhaps a reflection of their somewhat lacklustre form.

Cuellar’s back header is a little short and Borini attempts to blast it, but Mignolet makes a good block.

The Liverpool attacker might have been better off squaring the ball in that instance. Still though, at least there’s been a chance in this less-than-lively encounter.

Down the other end meanwhile, Seb Larsson curls a free kick narrowly past the post, as there are increasing signs that this match is belatedly coming to life.

Another chance, as a snap shot by Borini following a lovely Suarez lay off forces a good reaction save from Mignolet.

Unfortunately for Keiren Westwood, the Sunderland goalkeeper has looked extremely alert in these opening stages.

The same cannot be said for Irish midfielder James McClean however, who has twice given it away cheaply now.

GOAL FOR SUNDERLAND!

Great work from Gardner, who goes past Johnson as if he wasn’t there, and he produces an inviting cross for Fletcher to tap in.

Skrtel will be disappointed that he let the Scottish striker get ahead of him there.

And Sunderland, having scored out of nowhere, are clearly more confident now, and look capable of adding a second all of a sudden.

(Steve Drew/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Suarez has just been booked for a rather obvious dive in the penalty area.

John O’Shea, however, didn’t do himself any favours by ill-advisedly sticking his foot out in the first place.

The Ireland defender is fortunate the referee didn’t fall for the Uruguayan’s antics.

One minute of stoppage time to be played in this rather uninspiring first-half.

So it’s been a pretty poor first-half in truth.

Sunderland gained some momentum after Fletcher’s opportunistic finish gave them the lead, before the game dipped into another lull in the last few minutes of the half.

Liverpool have offered even less in attack, barely threatening apart from two Borini half-chances.

It’s been said before, but the visitors really could do with someone like Andy Carroll to give their anemic attack some bite.

Here’s a look at that Fletcher goal:

YouTube credit: TheSo0ocreative1

Having seen the replay more clearly, it appears there was contact between Suarez and O’Shea in the aforementioned first-half incident, and Liverpool will rightly feel aggrieved that they weren’t awarded a penalty.

As the cliché goes, Suarez reputation proceeded him in that case.

And the second half is underway…

The second half has began in the same manner as the majority of the first-half panned out – incident free.

Great skill by Sessegnon to turn his marker and subsequently win a corner.

The Beninese footballer has been one of the more accomplished performers this afternoon and has looked particularly lively in the last five minutes.

Some nice passing and movement from Sunderland there, ending with Colback excitedly blasting a shot over the bar from distance, when he had the opportunity to play McClean through on goal.

Down the other end, the ball falls to Steven Gerrard following a goalmouth scramble, and he shaves the post with a shot from the edge of the area.

As if things couldn’t get any worse for Liverpool fans, Stewart Downing has just entered the action in place of the disappointing Borini.

He’ll probably score an absolute stunner now that I’ve typed that.

Glen Johnson has just blasted over, but Liverpool have increased the pressure on their opponents’ goal.

Martin O’Neill’s men are playing with fire by dropping deep.

GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!

Luiz Suarez is on hand to smash it home at the second time of asking, following a poor attempted clearance by Bramble.

Liverpool have undoubtedly upped the pressure in this second half and the goal is no more than they deserve.

Sunderland, meanwhile, have played into their hands, dropping increasingly deep and ostensibly settling for the 1-0 win.

After 78 minutes, Reina has rather oddly decided to change his boots.

“He’s going for the double bow as well,” Jon Champion notes wryly.

Jonjo Shelvey makes a mazy run before testing Mignolet with a powerful drive, while Suarez can only head the rebound over.

All the attacking momentum has been with Liverpool for the majority of this second half.

A threatening break is made by Sunderland, spearheaded by Frazier Campbell, but McClean disappointingly overhits the decisive cross.

The Irish winger has looked somewhat tired today, perhaps owing to all the travel he’s been doing in recent days.

Sunderland make their final substitution, as Saha replaces the goalscorer, Fletcher.

I doubt either side will be particularly pleased with a draw today.

(Sunderland’s Danny Rose and Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling engage in a bit of wrestling – Steve Drew/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

We’re well into added time now, and it looks set to be the first time since 1911 that Liverpool have failed to win a game at this point in the season, according to Jon Champion anyway.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland

So Liverpool are at least out of the relegation zone after that performance, while Sunderland continue to languish in 14th place.

It’s hard to say which side will be happier – Liverpool began to play better football in the second half, but will be frustrated with the outcome.

Sunderland, meanwhile, will be relieved to have at least escaped with a point, but fans can expect an uncomfortable season if that unimpressive performance is anything to go by.

Speaking to ESPN, Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool “completely controlled the game” and that they “know the first win is around the corner”.

Glen Johnson says Liverpool “have played well in the majority of the games this season” and are “unfortunate to only have two points”.

Brendan Rodgers says he’s “very pleased” with the Liverpool performance and that a draw was “the very least they deserved”.

(Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard walks out with Justice 96 on the back of his shirt – Steve Drew/PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Alright, that’s it from me.

Thanks for reading and commenting, and enjoy your weekend.