Magic Macho earns point for Black Cats

The Austrian produced a superb display of goalkeeping to deny second-place Liverpool the victory they needed to reclaim top spot from Arsenal yesterday.

Sunderland's expected two-month loan capture of Derby County's Mart Poom has piled the pressure on Macho to keep producing the goods.

And the 25-year-old - third-choice until injuries were sustained by Thomas Sorensen and Thomas Myhre - certainly reacted in exactly the right manner at Liverpool.

Magic Macho made a string of vital saves in both halves to ensure Sunderland stretched their unbeaten Premiership run to four matches.

And Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier hailed Macho, he said: "I'm sure the keeper was man of the match. Particularly in the first half he made some great saves."

Liverpool dominated proceedings and they never looked like slipping up at home to the Wearsiders - something they have not now done since 1983.

But it could and should have been so different, but Macho's fantastic display coupled with a determined and resolute rearguard in front of him, meant Howard Wilkinson's side clinched another important point.

Since Wilkinson took charge the Black Cats have not tasted defeat since the West Ham clash - his first game in charge.

And, while the visitors never looked like gaining all three points, a goalless draw at Anfield - where Liverpool are undefeated in the top-flight this season, will be very gratefully received.

Sunderland never reached the heights of last week's 2-0 win over Tottenham at the Stadium of Light, but this was a different type of game and they proved they now have the determination to hang on for their lives when they need to.

Wilkinson was forced to make one change from the side that recorded victory over Spurs seven days earlier. Joachim Bjorklund came in as a replacement for Scouser Stephen Wright, who left Liverpool in the summer.

Otherwise it was the same line-up with promising youngster Michael Proctor keeping his shirt at right-midfield after his impressive debut last week.

There was no place in the 16 for flying forward David Bellion despite recovering from injury or Matthew Piper, due for surgery on a troublesome hernia operation today.

As expected Reds chief Gerard Houllier, meanwhile, did drop England star Steven Gerrard.

The midfielder was severley criticised by his boss after his recent performances - most recently his display in 3-3 Champions League draw in Basle - and he found his name among the substitutes.

Houllier believes Gerrard needs rest in order to recapture his best form and his replacement yesterday was Senegalese World Cup star Salif Diao.

Liverpool, unbeaten on home soil in 17 top-flight matches, started with the intention to quickly forget about their midweek Champions League exit.

And they had two opportunities to grab an early lead in the sixth minute. First, Emile Heskey - back in a more potent striking role after playing wide right in the defeat at Middlesbrough last week - turned and his shot from distance was deflected for a corner.

Then seconds later, Danny Murphy found himself in acres of space on the Sunderland by-line. He picked out full-back Markus Babbel, playing his first League match in 16 months after overcoming serious illness, rushing in but the German's first time close range shot flew over.

The hosts were camped in Sunderland's half for much of the opening half and 'keeper Macho's goal was under some threat.

And, after some quality play from Michael Owen on the left, the ball found its way to Murphy and his shot was deflected on to the cross bar before Diao's effort from the rebound went wide.

It seemed only a matter of time before the Merseysiders would grab the opener - but Macho seemed to have other ideas.

On 27 minutes the Austrian, desperate to impress with the imminent arrival of Poom, somehow got down to save right-handed Owen's header from a Murphy cross.

Liverpool were still enjoying more of the possession and were creating chance after chance.

Murphy and Owen were causing all of the problems for Sunderland and the latter's shot of the match - a powerful 20-yard drive, after beating Bjorklund - just flew wide of the upright.

That was before Macho then denied both Murphy, on two further occasions, and Reds skipper Sami Hyypia, as Sunderland kept the score level at half-time.

During the interval Sunderland chief Wilkinson and his No 2 Steve Cotterill needed their players to go on the attack more.

Both of the visiting front-men, Kevin Phillips and Tore Andre Flo, were peripheral figures during the first 45 minutes and they, along with the rest of the Sunderland team, failed to trouble goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek.

It was much of the same immediately after the restart, but the Black Cats were defending well.

Phil Babb, a former Anfield flop, was proving his worth with some good challenges alongside centre-back Jody Craddock as Sunderland had to contend with a sea of Red pressure.

And Wilkinson's response was to try to stem the tide by leaving Flo up front on his own by taking off Phillips and replacing him with extra midfielder Paul Thirlwell.

Houllier also had ideas and he brought on £10m striker El-Hadji Diouf and Norwegian John Arne Riise.

And within a minute of coming on Diouf blasted woefully wide as the draw looked ever more likely.

The former Lens star then went closer to scoring the elusive goal but this time his header was deflected over the bar a Liverpool man.

In the last ten minutes, Macho made another super stop from Murphy's bullet header and George McCartney somehow headed clear off the line after a goal looked inevitable.

It may have been one way traffic for the full 90 minutes, but it's another great point earned by Sunderland.