Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge scored as Liverpool held on to secure a narrow 2-1 win against Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night, which moved them back to second and kept up the pressure on their Premier League title rivals.
A seventh successive Premier League win was secured thanks to a powerful Gerrard free kick and a curled effort from Sturridge , which handed Liverpool a two-goal advantage before Ki sung-Yueng pulled one back 14 minutes from time.
The victory moved Brendan Rodgers’ men back to the second place of the Premier League table ahead of Manchester City and a point behind leaders Chelsea with both their main title rivals still to be welcomed by The Merseyside team at Anfield.
Sunderland, meanwhile, remain three points adrift of safety in 18th place in the relegation battle as West Ham United moved further clear of danger with a 2-1 home win over 10-man Hull City.
“You have to give credit to Sunderland, they have come to make it difficult for us, they were difficult to break down,” Liverpool captain Gerrard told Sky Sports.
“We need to learn that when we go two goals ahead we can’t concede. We need to hold on and pass it better.”
MATCH FACTS
Liverpool: Mignolet , Johnson , Skrtel , Agger , Flanagan , Gerrard , Henderson , Allen, Coutinho , Sturridge (Sterling 77), Suarez .
Subs not used: Brad Jones, Aspas, Moses, Sakho, Cissokho, Lucas.
Goals: Gerrard 39, Sturridge 48.
Sunderland: Mannone , Brown , O’Shea , Vergini , Bardsley , Cattermole , Bridcutt , Dossena (Colback 83), Giaccherini (Johnson 61), Altidore, Wickham (Ki 61).
Subs not used: Larsson, Roberge, Scocco, Ustari.
Goals: Ki 76.
Booked: Vergini, Bardsley.
Attendance: 44, 524.
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)
Source: Sokkaa