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Liverpool draws 2-2 at home with Sunderland

Sunderland conceded a bizarre goal in the fifth minute but held on to draw 2-2 at Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.

Dutch striker Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool a controversial early lead after Sunderland was awarded a free kick inside its own half. Michael Turner gave the ball only a gentle knock in the direction of his goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who was some 30 meters away, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres intercepted and Kuyt collected the Spaniard’s pass to score.

However, Sunderland players claimed Turner wasn’t taking the free kick, but rolling it towards Mignolet to take it instead.

Sunderland’s Darren Bent leveled with a 25^th minute penalty and then headed home in the 48^th, but Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard nodded an equalizer in the 64^th.

Liverpool had made a bright start with Torres rifling the ball into the net in the third minute after controlling n Gerrard’s free-kick on his chest and volleying home, only to be denied by an offside flag.

Kuyt’s goal put Liverpool in front at Anfield but the lead last only 20 minutes before a cross by Ahmed Elmohamady struck Christian Poulsen’s arm in the area and Bent converted the spot-kick.

Things went even better for Sunderland three minutes after the restart, when Bent headed home Nedum Onuoha’s cross, getting in just ahead of Liverpool defender Glen Johnson.

Liverpool pushed forward in seach of an equalizer and found it when Torres beat defender Phillip Bardsley close to the right touchline and swung over an inviting cross which Gerrard headed in at the near post.

But Liverpool struggled to build momentum and a clash of heads between defenders Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel resulted in the former briefly leaving the field for stitches while his defensive partner was bandaged up.

Liverpool, at least, was now showing some desire and substitute David Ngog forced a low save out of Mignolet, Kuyt fired just wide, Turner cleared off the line from Ngog and Agger headed wide in a closing flourish.

But the result did little to lift the growing feeling of discontent in and around the club and a sit-in protest against the club’s unpopular American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett at the final whistle only highlighted problems yet to be overcome.