SUNDERLAND left Anfield with a deserved point, as they put the midweek Manchester City mauling to bed.

Seven days after frustrating Chelsea with a dogged display, the Black Cats set out to do the same to Liverpool.

And, while the Reds were far from fluent, the Black Cats more than deserved a point.

It was 23 minutes before the game’s first chance, Rickie Lambert heading across goal from a Glen Johnson cross.

Sunderland claimed for a penalty on 35 minutes, Connor Wickham felled by Martin Skirtel in the area, but referee Neil Swarbrick was having none of it.

Right on half-time, Wes Brown sent a header over from eight yards, when he should have been asking questions of former Black Cats’ keeper Simon Mignolet.

Wickham had a chance on 53 minutes, put pulled his volley from a deep corner back across goal.

Costel Pantilimon saved well, getting down low to deny a goalbound Lucas shot from 20 yards.

Then Liam Bridcutt flung himself in the way of a Coutinho shot to block with his shoulder.

On 78 minutes, the Reds strung together the best passage of play of the game and it led to Pantilimon saving from Coutinho.

But, with Wes Brown and John O’Shea impeccable in front of him and the side’s 4-1-4-1 formation working a treat, it was a comfortable 0-0 draw for Gus Poyet’s men.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Johnson, Skirtel, Toure; Moreno; Lucas, Henderson; Lallana (Gerrard 67), Coutinho (Markovic 78), Sterling; Lambert.

Subs: Jones (gk), Enrique, Lovren, Can, Allen.

SUNDERLAND: Pantiimon; Vergini, O’Shea, Brown, Reveillere; Bridcutt; Wickham, Gomez, Larsson (Cattermole 70), Johnson (Buckley 79); Altidore (Alvarez 70). Subs: Mannone (gk), Rodwell, Fletcher, Robson.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Preston)