Gerrard rescues Reds

Steven Gerrard rescued a point for Liverpool at home to Sunderland but the Reds' season continues to stutter with two more dropped Premier League points.

The Reds, as they have been so often in the past, were indebted to their skipper as he headed home Fernando Torres' excellent cross midway through the second period.

But the leveller could not paper over the cracks of a largely poor performance from the Anfield outfit, coming just three days following their humiliating Carling Cup exit at the hands of Northampton.

Liverpool took the lead with just four minutes on the clock as Michael Turner rolled a free-kick back towards Simon Mignolet, only for Torres to seize possession before squaring for Dirk Kuyt to slot home.

Sunderland were incensed, apparently aggrieved that Turner's pass was for Mignolet to take the set-piece, but referee Stuart Attwell allowed the goal to stand after consulting with his assistant.

The Black Cats were back on terms before the half-hour mark as Ahmed Elmohamady's cross was clearly handled in the box by Christian Poulsen, with Darren Bent stepping up to make no mistake from 12 yards.

Steve Bruce's men then stunned Anfield into silence at the start of the second period as Nedum Onuoha's glorious cross was headed home at the back post by Bent.

Liverpool needed some inspiration and it arrived in the form of captain Gerrard, before substitute Daniel Agger somehow headed wide in the seventh minute of added time when unmarked four yards from goal.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.