Sunderland secured an excellent result at Liverpool – this is how...

In the end it wasn't quite the famous night it looked like it might be.

- by Phil Smith

Some wonderful footwork and a big deflection allowed Florian Wirtz and Liverpool to take a share of the spoils but for Sunderland this was another big step firmly in the right direction.

It was a performance that embodied why they have made such a successful start to the Premier League season, resolute defensively and strong against very few clear chances.

Though they weren't a constant attacking threat, they did enough to trouble Liverpool and Chemsdine Talbi's deflected effort wasn't entirely against the run of play. It was a point they were on the whole pretty good value for, even accounting for a belated spell of late Liverpool pressure. One point closer to 40.

Sunderland had reverted to something akin to a back five after their successes against Chelsea and Arsenal, though in the opening exchanges it looked a little different with a more aggressive intent. Trai Hume was pushed up essentially to play as a right winger in a 4-4-2, with Enzo Le Fee alongside Brian Brobbey at the top of the pitch.

With Liverpool a little flat and sloppy playing out from the back, that front two were able to apply some pressure on the ball and it felt like there was something in the game for the Black Cats even if clear chances were few and far between.

Aside from one long-range effort that was straight at Robin Roefs, the hosts offered little early on and much of their possession was well away from the Sunderland goal.