Sunderland 1-0 Liverpool
Liverpool's stuttering season took a turn for the worse as they were beaten by a Sunderland side who went above them in the Premier League table.
The Black Cats went ahead when a Darren Bent shot was allowed to stand after deflecting in off a beach ball, which a Reds fan had thrown on to the pitch.
Bent then headed just wide before hitting the post with an angled shot.
Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon pulled off a double save from Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog late on to secure the win.
A fourth defeat of the league season will only add to the question marks over Liverpool's title credentials after they were outplayed without injured midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres.
Ahead of a week in which they face a crucial Uefa Champions League tie against Lyon and host Manchester United, they only added weight to critics who label them a two-man team.
After Sunderland's heroics a fortnight ago coming within a whisker of taking three points away from Old Trafford, Steve Bruce's Black Cats looked to go one better in their second consecutive game against 'Top Four' opposition, taking on Rafael Benitez's Liverpool.
With new signing Boudewijn Zenden in the squad, and Liverpool missing key players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the home side would seldom get a better opportunity.
And it was a controversial strike from Darren Bent after just five minutes that gave Bruce's side a deserved win which takes them above an out of sorts looking Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Sunderland looked lively from the outset, with Darren Bent and Andy Reid both having chances within the first two minutes, before Liverpool's Glen Johnson hit the visitors first chance wide after a surging run down the right.
Dirk Kuyt and Yossi Benyoun got in each other's way after 68 minutes challenging for a ball that bounced up in front of goal and the effort they managed between them, though tame and easy for home keeper Craig Gordon, was the visitors' first on target.The hosts then carved out a glorious opening when Bent fed Malbranque in the area, but Jamie Carragher launched himself to block.Liverpool sent in the cavalry, Andriy Voronin and Javier Mascherano replacing Skrtel and Spearing with 18 minutes remaining, with David Ngog following for Babel.
Voronin's header from Bardsley's spooned clearance was taken in the 84th minute by Gordon, who then had to tip over Johnson's cross.Seven minutes of added time were shown during which Gordon produced a sensational double save from Kuyt and Ngog as Liverpool fell short.
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