Final, 0-0: It’s all over at Anfield. The game ends in a goal-less draw.
Liverpool and Sunderland share the spoils after 90 minutes of action failed to produce a goal. The Reds and Black Cats had their chances but didn’t capitalize on them.
Liverpool falls to ninth place in the standings, having been overtaken by Newcastle. Sunderland still is 14th.
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90th minute, 0-0: There will be a minimum of three minutes of added time in the second half.
87th minute, 0-0: Lambert’s knock-down header finds Markovic in the goal-mouth, but Vergini blocks the Liverpool forward’s shot.
84th minute, 0-0: Brown blocks Sterling’s shot, and Henderson misses the target with his follow-up effort.
83rd minute, 0-0: Sterling dribbles into Sunderland’s penalty area and goes down near Brown. Liverpool wants a penalty, but the referee won’t give it.
81st minute, 0-0: Gomez hits a powerful first-time shot from 25 yards out, but Mignolet turns it away with a diving save.
79th minute, 0-0: Buckley is cautioned for pushing Moreno.
78th minute, 0-0: Buckley replaces Johnson in Sunderland’s final substitution.
77th minute, 0-0: That’s it for Coutinho. Markovic replaces the Brazilian, as Liverpool makes another personnel change.
77th minute, 0-0: Sterling dribbles from Liverpool’s third to the edge of Sunderland’s penalty area and lays it off to Coutinho, who shoots on goal. Pantilimon saves it, and a defender clears the rebound.
73rd minute, 0-0: Coutinho shoots on the half-volley, but Bridcutt bravely blocks it.
70th minute, 0-0: Sunderland counters with a double substitution. Cattermole replaces Larsson, and Alvarez comes on for Altidore.
67th minute, 0-0: Gerrard enters, and Lallana exits, as Liverpool makes its first substitution.
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64th minute, 0-0: Coutinho looks to curl a shot into the top corner, but it misses high by a few feet.
63rd minute, 0-0: Lucas hits a low drive from 25 yards out, but Pantilimon saves it.
61st minute, 0-0: Henderson misses the target with the ensuing free kick, as Liverpool misses an opportunity.
60th minute, 0-0: Bridcutt is cautioned for barging into Sterling on the edge of Sunderland’s penalty area.
57th minute, 0-0: Sterling shoots high and wide from distance.
Liverpool is trying to get something going in the second half.
55th minute, 0-0: Wickham shoots from inside Liverpool’s penalty area once again. It deflects off of Johnson and goes out for a corner kick.
Sunderland has had the better start to the second half.
53rd minute, 0-0: Skrtel can’t clear a Sunderland corner kick. His header falls to Wickham, who volleys a shut wide of Mignolet’s goal.
51st minute, 0-0: Lucas is cautioned for a professional foul on Gomez.
49th minute, 0-0: Liverpool has a penalty shot after Moreno’s cross deflects off of O’Shea and hits Gomez’s arm. The contact was incidental, and the referee allows play to continue.
47th minute, 0-0: Gomez intercepts a loose pass, dribbles forward and shoots on goal, but it takes a deflection and goes out for a corner kick.
46th minute, 0-0: The second half is underway.
Halftime, 0-0: That’s the end of the first half. It’s goal-less at Anfield.
Liverpool and Sunderland played out a largely uneventful first half, which suits the visitors just fine. Sunderland controlled the early part of the period, but Liverpool seized the impetus after 20 minutes.
There weren’t many clear goal-scoring chances, as focus and determination have taken priority over quality and imagination.
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Liverpool has improved in the second half in recent games, and the fans will look for their team to do the same against Sunderland. Liverpool can create more dangerous chances with quicker transitions and faster passing tempo.
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45th minute, 0-0: Brown heads a corner kick over the crossbar from close range.
45th minute, 0-0: There will be a minimum of one minute of added time in the first half.
44th minute, 0-0: Coutinho looks like he’s struggle with a leg injury. The Brazilian isn’t running very freely.
41st minute, 0-0: Vergini is cautioned for holding Sterling as he tried to dribble past him.
37th minute, 0-0: The Reds now have taken control of proceedings. They have dominated possession since the 20-minute mark and pushed the game deep into Sunderland’s half.
31st minute, 0-0: Liverpool threatens on a short corner kick, but Bridcutt clears the danger just before Henderson lines up a shot inside the penalty area.
25th minute, 0-0: Coutinho dribbles into the box, cuts onto his right foot and shoots, but Pantilimon makes a good save at the near post.
23rd minute, 0-0: Lambert heads Lallana’s cross just wide of Pantilimon’s goal.
O’Shea did just enough disrupt Lambert, as he tried to head the ball.
21st minute, 0-0: It has been a frustrating start for Liverpool. Sunderland has advantages in possession and territory, while Liverpool is struggling to establish a rhythm to its play.
16th minute, 0-0: Gomez misses the target with a shot from 25 yards out, but Sunderland continues to be more proactive than Liverpool.
11th minute, 0-0: Sunderland has had the majority of possession in recent minutes. The visitors are asserting themselves at Anfield early on.
Fourth minute, 0-0: There has been action in both teams’ thirds of the field in the first minutes, as they bypass the midfielder and attack the opponents’ goal directly. It hasn’t led to any scoring clear scoring chances, but the game looks like it could be an open one.
Second minute, 0-0: Wickham goes down in Liverpool’s penalty area after making contact with Skrtel, but the referee declines his penalty appeal.
Kickoff: Liverpool-Sunderland is underway at Anfield.
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Pregame: Moreno returns to the starting lineup for the first time since Liverpool’s 2-1 loss to Chelsea on Nov. 8. Moreno will play left back.
Coutinho watched Tuesday’s win over Leicester City from the bench. The Brazilian playmaker starts against Sunderland.
Toure and Lucas are included in the starting lineup once again, as expected.
Altidore gets a rare start for Sunderland.
9:45 a.m.: Here are the lineups:
Liverpool
Simon Mignolet (22), goalkeeper
Alberto Moreno (18), left back
Martin Skrtel (37), center back
Kolo Toure (4), center back
Glen Johnson (2), right back
Lucas Leiva (21), midfielder
Jordan Henderson (14), midfielder
Adam Lallana (20), midfielder
Philippe Coutinho (10), midfielder
Raheem Sterling (31), forward
Rickie Lambert (9), striker
Substitutes
Brad Jones (1), goalkeeper
Dejan Lovren (6), defender
Jose Enrique (3), defender
Joe Allen (24), midfielder
Emre Can (23), midfielder
Steven Gerrard (8), midfielder
Lazar Markovic (50), forward
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Sunderland
Costel Pantilimon (1), goalkeeper
Anthony Reveillere (15), left back
Wes Brown (5), center back
John O’Shea (16), center back
Santiago Vergini (27), right back
Liam Bridcutt (4), midfielder
Jordi Gomez (14), midfielder
Sebastian Larsson (7), midfielder
Adam Johnson (11), midfielder
Conor Wickham (10), forward
Jozy Altidore (17), striker
Substitutes
Vito Mannone (25), goalkeeper
Thomas Robson, defender
Lee Cattermole (6), midfielder
Jack Rodwell (8), midfielder
Ricardo Alvarez (26), midfielder
Will Buckley (30), forward
Steven Fletcher (9), striker
9:30 a.m. ET: Liverpool’s Premier League campaign could be gathering steam as it nears the festive period.
After struggling in the opening three months of 2014-15, Liverpool is on the cusp of a revival. The Reds have won their last two Premier League games and look to make it three Saturday when they host Sunderland at Anfield.
Liverpool sits eighth in the standings with 20 points after 14 games, while Sunderland is 14th with 14 points from as many games. Three points will help the Reds remain firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish.
More recent trends make Saturday’s contest look promising for the hosts. Liverpool has won back-to-back games. Sunderland is winless in its last four league games and only has won one of its last seven. Liverpool has won its last three games against Sunderland, including both league meetings last season. Sunderland hasn’t won at Anfield since 1983.
Brendan Rodgers has opted for steel over style as he attempts to improve the Reds’ results, and the Liverpool boss is expected to continue with the likes of veterans Lucas Leiva, Kolo Toure and Rickie Lambert in the starting 11.
Saturday’s game represents a reunion of sorts. Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet came to Anfield from Sunderland in 2011 and 2013, respectively. Liverpool forward Fabio Borini spent last season on loan with the Mackems.
Liverpool-Sunderland kicks off at 10 a.m. Join us right here for all the action from Anfield.
Photo via Rui Vieira/The Associated Press
