Darren Bent staked a further claim for a place in England's World
Cup squad as Sunderland heaped further misery on Liverpool.
However, he did so in controversial circumstances as the visitors
were left fuming over the fifth-minute strike which secured the
Black Cats' first victory over a 'top four' team since their return
to the Premier League.
Bent's eighth goal of the season came when his shot was deflected
past goalkeeper Pepe Reina by a red beach ball which had been thrown
onto the pitch, although referee Mike Jones had little option but
to award the goal.
But if the visitors felt aggrieved at the manner in which their
third successive defeat in all competitions was sealed, they could
have few complaints about the result in front of a crowd of 47,327
at the Stadium of Light.
With the injured Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres missing, they
were a shadow of the side which pushed Manchester United so close
last season as they slipped to their fourth league defeat of the
campaign despite a late, late rally.
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