TIME and Wear

REDS FINALLY RUN DOWN THE CLOCK AS TOP FOUR RACE REIGNITED 'N NORTH EAST

- By IAN DOYLE

Andy Robertson, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk celebrate the win at Sunderland

As the clock ticked down at the Stadium of Light, all eyes were on the fourth official.

And the groans from the travelling support and renewed hope among the home crowd at the sight of seven minutes being signalled spoke volumes.

Having had the beating of Sunderland all evening, Liverpool were now left with one final opponent: their own understandably shaky self-belief in seeing the game out.

The manner of Sunday's demoralising late defeat at home to Manchester City brought into sharp focus a failing that has severely compromised their Premier League aspirations.

City's winner was the sixth goal the Reds had conceded from the 90th minute onwards in the top flight this season, costing them eight vital points.