Sunderland 1, Liverpool FC 0 (D,Post)

Oct 19 2009

No hard luck story as Liverpool self-destruct

DARREN BENT'S eighth goal of the season handed Sunderland a victory over Liverpool in controversial circumstances. The £10million striker’s fifth-minute shot was deflected past keeper Pepe Reina by a beach ball which had been thrown on to the pitch, although the Reds’ protests were in vain. Bent might have collected at least a hat-trick on a day when Rafael Benitez’s injury-hit side were nowhere near their best, although keeper Craig Gordon had to make a fine double save in injury time to deny Dirk Kuyt and then substitute David Ngog. Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez made wholesale changes for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League trip to Sunderland in the midst of a selection crisis. Full match report at Liverpool Daily Post website - click here