Sam Greenwood’s 43rd minute penalty handed the Black Cats the lead at half-time before Glen McAuley’s spot-kick hauled the Reds level after 59 minutes.
Andrias Edmundsson’s 87th minute header ensured that all three points remained on Wearside as Sunderland secured back-to-back wins over Merseyside opposition.
SCENESETTER
The Black Cats faced their second Merseyside opponent in the space of four days as second-placed Liverpool made the trip to Wearside on Saturday morning. Mark Atkinson’s men were hoping for a repeat of Tuesday’s visit to Finch Farm, where they defeated third-placed Everton 2-0 in a display that defied the pair’s league positions. Another stern Merseyside test awaited Sunderland on Saturday but the Wearsiders held the upper-hand form-wise with Liverpool coming into the game off the back of two straight defeats.
EARLY CHANGE
The hosts showed promise in the closely contested opening stages and Connor Slack came inches away from finding the target after six minutes, but the striker couldn’t quite connect with Ryan Leonard’s teasing ball across the face of goal. Atkinson’s plans were disrupted somewhat with just 17 minutes on the clock as goalkeeper Anthony Patterson was forced off due to injury as he landed awkwardly after coming to claim a left-sided cross.
BREAKTHROUGH
The Black Cats had Edmundsson to thank for keeping the game goalless midway through the first period as the defender was on hand to clear Glen McAuley’s close-range header off the line. Sunderland capitalised two minutes before the break as Joe Lilley’s determination saw him beat orange shirts to a loose ball before being brought down by Rhys Williams just inside the area for a penalty kick. It was Sam Greenwood who shouldered the responsibility of putting his side the lead – and he delivered with confidence powering the ball past Vitos Jaros and into the top-left corner to hand the hosts the initiative at the break.
CATS PAY THE PENALTY
After earning a spot-kick in the first-half, Sunderland gave one away in the second to allow Liverpool back into the game. Jack Bearne’s through ball played O’Rourke in behind and the striker was felled by Newman as he rushed out to thwart the danger. Newman guessed the right way from the spot to no avail as McAuley’s penalty had too much power to keep out and it was back to square one for the Black Cats. Rayed Derbali prevented the visitors from taking the lead midway through the second 45 as he slid in to block Jake Cain’s effort after the latter found himself through on goal.
ADVANTAGE RESTORED
With only three minutes remaining the Black Cats got their noses back in front to set up a tense finish. Greenwood whipped a wide free-kick deep towards the back post where Edmundsson lay in wait before the defender judged the bounce and sent a looping header over Reds keeper Jaros and into the far corner of the net. A nervy few minutes followed but the hosts kept their cool to secure three points and move sixth in the Premier League.
Sunderland U18: Patterson (Newman, 17), Howard, Devine, Neil (Evans, 60), Derbali, Edmundsson, Leonard, Lilley, Slack (Dunne, 60), Greenwood, Kokolo.
Subs: Hesson, Scothern.