Sunderland 0 - 1 LIVERPOOL

By Craig McWalter
April 13 2002

Match Report of todays vital game at the Stadium Of Light against Sunderland. Who would replace the injured Heskey? Read On for more on todays game.....

Sunderland managed to hold up Liverpool's title charge in a goalless first half.

Neither keeper was unduly troubled during the opening 45 minutes, although John Arne Riise twice went close from distance, while Jason McAteer fired over from 15 yards.

Gerard Houllier went on to the offensive in a bid to sweep away his side's Champions League misery by fielding three strikers at Sunderland.

Michael Owen, Nicolas Anelka and Jari Litmanen were all included in the starting line-up as Emile Heskey missed out with a hamstring injury.

Danny Murphy had to make do with a seat on the bench, but Sami Hyypia shook off a bout of 'flu to retain his place in central defence.

Sunderland fielded the same side which started the 2-0 defeat at Leeds last Sunday after Kevin Phillips recovered from a stomach muscle injury, but Patrick Mboma and Michael Gray missed out with knee and back injuries respectively.

It was Sunderland who started the brighter, and as Liverpool looked uncharacteristically shaky at the back, Kevin Kilbane created a fourth-minute chance for Kevin Phillips - captaining the side in Gray's absence - but his header was scrambled away.

In an even start, it was Liverpool who created the better chances and home keeper Thomas Sorensen was forced to concede a 10th-minute corner after Joachim Bjorklund's loose header fell nicely for John Arne Riise, and he sent in a dipping shot which bounced nastily in front of the Dane.

The Norwegian had the goal in his sights again six minutes later when he took aim from Litmanen's lay-off, but this time his rising drive climbed just too high.

However, the Wearsiders again put Jerzy Dudek's goal under pressure with 21 minutes gone when Phillips' flick header from a Claudio Reyna cross came back off a defender and former Liverpool midfielder Jason McAteer smashed a shot over the bar.

McAteer played Phillips in over the top on 27 minutes as Stephane Henchoz got his bearings all wrong, but the England striker could not collect the ball as it dropped and the Swiss international headed safely back to Dudek.

Litmanen's quick feet allowed him the time to pick out Riise's run on the half-hour and it looked bleak for the home side as he cut inside Bjorklund, but Jody Craddock got in a vital block to protect Sorensen.

Sunderland were having to defend in numbers, but they were doing so to good effect as they attempted to hustle Liverpool out of possession and not allow them time on the ball.

Craddock again came to Sunderland's rescue four minutes later as he threw himself into the path of Owen's shot after Anelka had streaked away down the left and pulled the ball back.