Sunderland Fan View: Black Cats' revival stalls against the Reds

After having enjoyed two victories back-to-back Sunderland would not have wanted to visit Anfield.

Liverpool is a difficult place to go and try to get a result at the best of times but at the moment Jurgen Klopp has his side fired up and looking like serious title contenders.

However, the German had to stir up the Anfield faithful who were growing restless as a result of Sunderland’s game plan. Despite frustrating the Reds for 75 minutes the Black Cats’ defence was eventually breached by Divock Origi. His shot appeared to defy the laws of physics such was the angle of the strike and sometimes you just have to accept that your side has succumbed to a well taken goal.

Much has been made about the amount of possession Liverpool had with something like 80%. However, stats do not always tell the whole story and yes, whilst Klopp’s side outplayed Sunderland, some of that possession was inevitably surrendered on purpose. Moyes clearly set his stall out defensively to frustrate his opponents and it nearly worked.

The last two games saw the Black Cats secure all of the spoils against Bournemouth and Hull City and this was a very different ask. It would have been naïve of Moyes to configure his side in gung-ho fashion. In his post match interview Klopp said Sunderland were ‘the most defensive team I ever saw’.

This probably was not meant as a compliment either but if Sunderland had decided to go marauding forward then Liverpool would have likely picked them off at every possible moment. The score would certainly not have been limited to 2-0. It is not the job of the opponent to make it easy for the stronger home side.

Sunderland were not without their own chances and Victor Anichebe – who has shone for the Black Cats recently – once again was involved in their attacking threat. Duncan Watmore squandered an important opportunity having been played through by the Nigerian but lacked that decisive moment of clarity when it mattered most. Unfortunately it is becoming a regular habit for the youngster but his pace and effort are still vitally important to his side’s chances of Premier League survival.

At half time results seemed to be going in Sunderland’s favour. That was not necessarily the case after 90 minutes with Swansea City in particular pulling of a spectacularly dramatic 5-4 victory to once again send Moyes’ men bottom of the league.

Premier League Champions Leicester City are next up for the Black Cats. They are not the same force of last season but are still capable of getting a result. Perhaps their exploits in Europe are taking their toll. Let us hope that defeat to Liverpool was just a blip in what had appeared to be a Sunderland revival.