No Luck for Liverpool: Sunderland defeat Liverpool in an Uninspiring Match

Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool

(56' Bendtner) 

After a disappointing loss against an overall out-played Arsenal last week, Liverpool were looking to gain some ground in the clamor for 4th place, despite being 10 points behind. All we've heard out of Melwood this week was that no one had given up the race for Champions League football next season. Today's match at Sunderland did little to calm any nerves.

Steven Gerrard made his return, to the bench at least, after returning to training on Thursday. Kenny made only two changes to the line-up against Arsenal, with Sebastian Coates and Craig Bellamy in for Jamie Carragher and Stewart Downing.

The first half was less than inspiring, with Sunderland's John O'Shea taking the first shot in the 9th minute, sending a header over the crossbar. Nicklas Bendtner took several shots early on, the first straight into Pepe Reina's hands, the second misfired from a good position.

The 31' saw Dirk Kuyt make an attempt with a header that Sunderland 'keeper Simon Mignolet blocked. Charlie Adam fired high moments later after a cross from Craig Bellamy. Adam's free kick forced Mignolet to send the ball over the bar, Kuyt's header from the resulting corner barely cleared. Mignolet made another last minute save as Suarez made a run into the box, Liverpool looking more and more dangerous at the end of the half.

An attempted clearance by Skrtel at the other end 5 minutes into the second half was enough to get Liverpool fan's pulse racing. Skrtel sent the ball towards his own goal, though Reina collected with ease.

The 56th minute saw Sunderland take the lead in a bizarre fashion. Campbell took a shot at the edge of the box, hitting the post. The ball then rebounded off of Pepe Reina's back, sending him to the ground. Then hit the post again. Then found Nicklas Bendtner, who found the back of the net. It would've been comical. Except it wasn't.

Craig Bellamy and Charlie Adam came off for Steven Gerrard and Andy Carroll as Liverpool looked for an equalizer.

Despite Gerrard and Carroll linking up quite well, with Carroll's ball being sent in by Gerrard, forcing Mignolet to make a low save, Liverpool found no equalizer. The only extra drama in the dying minutes at the Stadium of Light was found in Bendtner getting taken off the pitch on a stretcher after a collision with Skrtel.

Sunderland came away with the 3 points, leaving Liverpool in the lurch after a forgettable match for the Reds as they look ahead to a Merseyside Derby next week.

Next Matches:

Liverpool v Everton. BPL. March 13. 4:00 PM EST.

Sunderland v Everton. FA Cup. March 17. 8:45 AM EST.

written by Yasmien Mizyed