ANOTHER display of rank bad refereeing spoiled an intriguing clash between two of the Premiership's leading European contenders.

Hertfordshire referee Graham Barber awarded a penalty that never was, disallowed a goal that should have been, and performed with an inconsistency which infuriated players and fans alike.

Not satisfied with booking eight players, mainly for fouls, he chose to extend his officious outlook by reporting three Sunderland players for having the audacity to run to their own jubilant supporters to celebrate a goal.

Don Hutchison's strike might well have been enough for a first home victory over the Merseysiders for 43 years.

It is a shame that the rock-bottom display by such an experienced referee - Barber joined the League list in 1994-95 after being a linesman in the FA Cup final - should be the main talking point of a game which promised so much but was virtually ruined by poor decisions on key issues.

Mr Barber missed three blatant penalties and awarded one for an offence which was clearly outside the box, despite consulting an assistant who went on to add to his sins by flagging for an offside which was dubious in the extreme.

Sunderland had a right to feel aggrieved in the 29th minute when Niall Quinn knocked the ball down to Kevin Phillips.

The England man showed great control to tee up a shooting opportunity for himself, only to be chopped down by Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz.

Liverpool also had legitimate claims for a spot-kick in the 38th minute as Hutchison quite clearly pushed his Scottish team-mate Gary McAllister in the back right in front of goal.

Sunderland manager Peter Reid was off his bench protesting in the 52nd minute when Phillips was again the victim of an illegal challenge in the Liverpool box. But his protests quickly subsided when the ball ran to Hutchison, who struck a lovely, low shot just inside the post from 16 yards.

Hutchison then committed the cardinal sin, at least in Mr Barber's eyes, of deciding to run towards the Sunderland supporters behind the goal - the Liverpool fans were at the other end - along with team-mates Gavin McCann and Julio Arca, only to be informed by the Tring official that their actions would be reported to the FA!

But Mr Barber continued to stumble his way through a game which was liberally peppered with robust challenges, and he proved to be quick on the draw with his yellow card.

But when stern and appropriate action was justified he failed completely to apply the laws of the game - and his assistant on the right flank was just as inefficient.

McAllister broke towards the Sunderland goal and when it was clear that he wasn't going to catch the Scottish midfielder, central defender Stanislav Varga brought him down from behind.

It was a definite professional foul, which should have resulted in the Slovakian international's dismissal, regardless of the fact that he had been booked for an earlier foul.

But although the trip was clearly well outside the penalty area, despite McAllister stumbling onwards and into the box, Mr Barber resolutely pointed to the spot, even after a brief consultation with his assistant.

Finnish striker Jari Litmanen calmly sent Thomas Sorensen the wrong way with a clinical spot-kick to put Liverpool on terms, and preserve an unbeaten record on Wearside which had stood since 1958.

The goal not only cost Sunderland two points, it also sparked a petulant response from Phillips.

He was perhaps frustrated by two brilliant, finger-tip saves from Dutch keeper Sander Westerveld, which extended his barren run to five games, and the resultant booking means Phillips now misses two matches for reaching ten cautions.

Mr Barber's controversial decisions did not end there, however, for he cut short Robbie Fowler's goal celebrations four minutes from time.

Fowler latched on to a Michael Owen cross come shot and stroked the ball into the net in front of the Liverpool fans but was whistled up for offside on a raised flag.

Reid, who was clearly upset by Mr Barber's decision to report three of his players for celebrating the opening goal, thought Varga, sent off for a similar offence in the FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace, was set for yet another long walk after his challenge on McAllister.

The Sunderland boss said: "That's one for Mr Barber because I get confused by all these rules.

"I thought that was the case and I was waiting for my centre half to come off."

And when asked if he thought Fowler had stolen the points near the end he replied: "They tell me it was a good goal on television - they tell me it wasn't offside. But the crucial one was the penalty - it changed the whole course of the game."

Reid, however, was delighted with another typical, hard-fighting display from his players, who denied Liverpool time and space.

Crowd favourite Julio Arca, who played despite a long, gruelling journey back from South America, again produced his ball-playing skills, while Darren Williams once more proved his value and versatility with a solid performanve alongside the impressive Varga at the heart of the defence.

But in the end a draw - the second against Liverpool this season - was a fair result and maintained Sunderland's challenge at the top end of the Premiership table