FT: SUNDERLAND 1-1 LIVERPOOL

Date: Saturday 15 September 2012
Kick Off: 17:30
Venue: The Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Referee: Martin Atkinson (West Yorkshire)
Broadcast: ESPN, 16:30


LINKS

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=168553


LIVE ARTICLE

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/153046


Sunderland and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light on Saturday evening.

Liverpool were by far the better team, dominating the game in terms of possession and chances, but a combination of bad luck and poor finishing meant that they did not get the three points they deserved.

The game started very scrappy, with both teams giving away possession cheaply and not creating any openings, but it was Liverpool who began to settle. Jonjo Shelvey and Luis Suarez dragged shots wide, and just as the Reds were beginning to pile on the pressure, it was the home side who scored.

Craig Gardner, filling in at right back, picked up the ball and weaved past two Liverpool players before playing it into the box for Steven Fletcher to finish from close range.

Shortly after this, Suarez was booked for simulation when he went down in the Sunderland area, although replays showed that there was contact.

In the second half, Liverpool started brightly and almost got an equaliser when Glen Johnson rattled a powerful effort against the crossbar. Shortly afterwards, Steven Gerrard hit a long range effort against the outside of the post. But the goal eventually did come on 71 minutes.

Raheem Sterling, who looked bright throughout the game, received the ball and delivered it into the box. Suarez's first touch let him down but it bounced back to him and he slammed it in from close range.

Liverpool piled on the pressure but could not find a winner, and they now find themselves with two points from their first four games, 17th in the league. Their next game is against Young Boys on Thursday in the UEFA Europa League.


LIVE SCOREBOARD

SUNDERLAND - 1
Fletcher 29'

LIVERPOOL - 1
Suarez 71'


LIVE LEAGUE POSITIONS

14. Sunderland - Pld 3, W 0, D 3, L 0, F 3, A 3, GD 1, Pts 3.
17. Liverpool - Pld 4, W 0, D 2, L 2, F 3, A 8, GD -5, Pts 2.


TEAMS

Sunderland
22 Mignolet
8 Gardner
16 O'Shea
24 Cuellar (Bramble 46')
3 Rose (Campbell 72')
7 Larsson
6 Cattermole
14 Colback
23 McClean
28 Sessegnon
26 Fletcher (Saha 86')

Subs: 20 Westwood, 9 Campbell, 12 Kilgallon, 17 Ji, 18 Meyler,
19 Bramble, 25 Saha.

Liverpool
25 Reina
34 Kelly
37 Skrtel
5 Agger
2 Johnson
8 Gerrard
24 Allen
33 Shelvey
29 Borini (Downing 64')
7 Suarez
31 Sterling

Subs: 1 Jones, 3 Enrique, 4 Sahin, 11 Assaidi, 14 Henderson,
19 Downing, 23 Carragher.


KEY UPDATES

29: GOAL - SUNDERLAND 1-0 LIVERPOOL
Craig Gardner makes a good run down the right hand side, beating a number of Liverpool players, and plays a ball in for Steven Fletcher (3) to score from close range.

37: LIVERPOOL BOOKING
Luis Suarez receives a yellow card (3) for diving.

46: SUNDERLAND SUB
Carlos Cuellar is replaced by Titus Bramble at half time due to injury.

63: LIVERPOOL BOOKING
Martin Skrtel receives a yellow card (2) for a foul on Stephane Sessegnon.

64: LIVERPOOL SUB
Fabio Borini is replaced by Stewart Downing.

71: GOAL - SUNDERLAND 1-1 LIVERPOOL
Raheem Sterling beats his man on the right hand side and whips a ball into the box which Luis Suarez (3) puts into the net after it deflects back to him from his first touch.

72: SUNDERLAND SUB
Danny Rose is replaced by Fraizer Campbell.

81: SUNDERLAND BOOKING
Sebastian Larsson receives a yellow card (1) for a foul on Raheem Sterling.

86: SUNDERLAND SUB
Steven Fletcher is replaced by Louis Saha.


LAST MATCHES

Sunderland
Saturday 1 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Swansea 2-2 Sunderland

Liverpool
Sunday 2 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Liverpool 0-2 Arsenal

Head to head
Saturday 10 March 2012
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool


TOP SCORERS

Sunderland
Steven Fletcher - 3
James McClean - 2

Liverpool
Luis Suarez - 3
Fabio Borini - 1
Stewart Downing - 1