Defender Phil Bardsley was left with mixed emotions going into the international break.
Bardsley was a part of the side which performed well at Old Trafford but he was left disappointed after his former employers scored a last-minute equaliser.
The 24-year-old defender was at his tenacious best against United but could do little as Patrice Evra's shot was redirected into the net by Anton Ferdinand in injury time.
"In the end we deserved to take something from the game," he said.
"Yes, we would have taken a point before the game but it was disappointing to get so close to winning.
"That's football."
He added: "We knew we had to get up close to them and stamp our mark on the game because otherwise teams like United will punish you.
"We tried to do that but unfortunately we couldn't hold on. We did the best we could and now we move on."
With no top-flight action for more than a week, Sunderland sit a healthy 8th, just three points off a top-four spot.
It's Liverpool next at the Stadium of Light on 17th October as the Black Cats begin a testing run-up to the winter programme.
And Bardsley says his team-mates are confident ahead of the Liverpool clash and feels the team are gelling well.
"We know what we have to do against Liverpool - repeat our performance against Man United.
"If we do, we can get something. Hopefully the lads who are away will come back fit.
"We will give it a good go.
"We're getting there as a team. The new lads who've come in are settling well.
"If we keep progressing as we are there's no reason why we can't carry on pushing up the league."
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