After seemingly escaping from jail by getting an equaliser after Chris Kirkland saved a penalty when they trailed 1-0, Liverpool gave a way a stupid late goal to slump to their fifth defeat in six games. Once again a sloppy first half display and failure to convert chances into goals in the second cost the Reds dear and leaves us fifth in the table, below the Blueshite.
If omens are anything to go by, the Stadium of Light was the right place to visit. Liverpool haven't lost on Wearside since 1958-9, a run stretching back over 20 games. Sunderland have been in abysmal form of late and were going into the game on the back of a dire performance in a 3-0 home defeat to Man City.
The biggest talking point in terms of team selection was the omission of Sami Hyypia. It was assumed he must have picked up an injury or have been ill but it transpires he was rested. The decision however gave Igor Biscan, who has put in some useful centre back performances in the Worthington Cup and for the reserves, a chance to impress on a bigger stage.
Otherwise there were no surprises, with Baros and Owen starting up front and Smicer given yet another chance to get used to the pace of the English game in his fourth Premiership season.
Despite Liverpool's recent poor form, the travelling Reds were still in fine voice and were buoyed by the fact Arsenal could only draw at Spurs. However, within 10 minutes the Tyne and Wear police moved in to quell any backing and ensure everyone stayed firmly in their seats. One fan got up to go to the toilet and was immediately told to sit down. I really don't know what the problem is with the police in the North East.
I've always found the people up there hospitable but as far as football fans are concerned their police are back in the 1970s and 80s. The situation was even more ridiculous when you consider that to our left, Mackems were bouncing up and down singing sad losers songs like 'sign on', 'follow follow' and the mildly funny 'Shearer is a wanker'.
On the whole though I can't say I have anything against Sunderland. Despite playing in the third biggest stadium in the Premiership and having 6 league titles to their credit (5 of them before Word War 1), their fans know their current place and don't have the delusions of grandeur that Middlesbrough have.
Even though their songs are shit, they do get behind their team and squirm at the shite pumped through the loudspeakers. But they are a disillusioned bunch at present and it was a strange feeling to see the Reds play in a ground that contained 10,000 empty seats.
As in recent weeks, Liverpool were sluggish at the start and seemed happy to let Sunderland come at them. McCann, Phillips and Gray all tried their luck but none of the efforts were on target. At the other end, Milan Baros and Michael Owen both did their best to create chances but were easily repelled by the home defence and it wasn't until the 20th minute that Liverpool had a meaningful effort when Steven Gerrard shot wide from outside the box.
Fifteen minutes later Sunderland's keeper Macho was tested for the first time when he comfortably saved Owen's effort from a tight angle. Liverpool's Chris Kirkland was not seeing much of the ball but that was more down to the inaccuracies of the home sides shooting than his defence keeping them at bay.
Eventually Liverpool's failure to clear cost him dear in the 36th minute and there was nothing he could do about Mcann's chip from just inside the box.
As has so often happened lately, Liverpool woke up as soon as they were 1-0 down. Smicer had a shot saved from Macho and with two minutes of the half left Baros was put through and seemed certain to score, only for Macho to save with his feet.
The Reds came out all guns blazing for the second half, kicking towards their own fans who the police had now accepted could stand up. Baros drew a great save from Macho, Gerrard went close from 25 yards and a Danny Murphy free kick was brilliantly tipped over the bar.
Murphy then hit a shot just wide and Djimi Traore totally miss kicked with the goal gaping. It was sad for Djimi, who was getting a bit of stick from the crowd. He's a decent enough defender but coming forward he offers nothing, hardly putting in an accurate cross and often looking
to pass back. His missed kick summed up his afternoon.
All this action had come in the first twelve minutes of the half, but Sunderland were given the opportunity to put the game beyond reach after a harsh penalty decision on 60 minutes. Jamie Carragher did appear to handle the ball but the question is could he have avoided it. From where I was it seemed he was clearly going for it with his head and Jamie was furious, getting a booking for his remonstrations with the referee.
The decision was made and there was no point in trying to get the referee to change his mind, but what the delay did do was make the penalty taker McCann nervous. His shot was weak but Kirkland still did well to get down and save it, as it was only just to his left, meaning he could easily have dived over it.
The penalty save gave Liverpool a lifeline and Diouf was immediately sent on for Biscan, with Traore moving into central defence and Riise dropping to left back.
Within 6 minutes we were level when Baros played on as Sunderland demanded offside and shot under the body of Macho, causing pandemonium amongst Reds fans.
There seemed only one side likely to win the game now but for all the possession Liverpool hardly created any more real chances. It was Baros, not Owen, who was the main threat and Diouf looked dangerous when he was able to stay on his feet.
There is a real problem with Liverpool's attack at the moment. Owen is by far our best striker but he is at his most prolific when partnered by Heskey, who Houllier prefers to waste in left midfield. But Baros is doing too much to be dropped and some work has to be put in on the training ground to make sure we get the best out of Owen when he is partnered by Baros.
With ten minutes left Howard Wilkinson made a substitution that seemed insignificant to Reds fans at the time when he sent on his number 42, Michael Proctor. I haven't a clue who he is but within five minuets he had pounced on a ball that Liverpool should have cleared to fire into the corner and put Sunderland ahead.
There was a time when Houllier was the tactical genius with substitutions but this time he was undone by one of his technical committee associates. There was time left to respond but the fans sensed the players would be unable to draw on the reserves required to. Hence the away end was only half full by the time the whistle went as Liverpool failed to muster a single effort on goal in the last five minutes.
Going behind once to Sunderland is careless. Going behind twice is unforgivable. Given we conceded a penalty at 1-0 down, I would have accepted a draw even though our possession merited more. It would have been more than we achieved from our last three games and perhaps something to build on.
But defensive errors and the failure to convert chances have cost us dear again and to lose so late on like that was a huge body blow and Houllier must be wondering just what we have to do to gain points. We now face the prospect of a resurgent Everton coming to Anfield fancying their chances and I for one am dreading next Sunday.
