Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Steve Bruce's Sunderland yesterday as an entertaining match ended with a stalemate.
A bizarre and controversial goal from the returning Dirk Kuyt after only five minutes set us off to a great start, however our lead was cancelled out by a Darren Bent penalty 20 minutes later as the away side came back into the game.
Sunderland controlled the early stages of the second half, and grabbed the lead with a diving header from the on-form Bent, but an even better guided header from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard set up a grand finale as Anfield came to life.
Unfortunately, despite late pressure and attacking football from the home side proving easy on the eye, neither side could claim a winner and both teams had to settle for a point.
Sunderland could be pleased with the score draw, however Liverpool were looking for more to console disgruntled supporters after a week of chaos and anarchy both on and off the field.
The desire to turn over a new leaf after the disappointing midweek Carling Cup defeat was made evident by Hodgson's team selection as the star names returned to the first eleven. Gerrard, Meireles, Carragher, Cole, Kuyt and Torres all started as the Reds aimed to collect their second three points of the season.
The home side dominated the opening stages, and could have been two up after just five minutes had been played. Two minutes into the match a dazzling run from Joe Cole earned Liverpool a free kick midway inside the Sunderland half.
Steven Gerrard floated a beautiful ball into the box and to Torres, who controlled it excellently with his chest before firing the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Unfortunately, the Spaniard had been rightly flagged offside. It was close, but the linesman made the correct decision.
Liverpool did not have to wait long to take the lead though as three minutes later Dirk Kuyt scored one of the most bizarre goals in our club's long and illustrious history.
Sunderland centre back Michael Turner prodded the ball back for goalkeeper Mignolet to take a free kick, however Torres, who thought that the free kick had been taken, reacted quickly to pounce onto the ball before squaring it to Kuyt, who had the simple task of sliding the ball into an unguarded net.
By the letter of the law the goal probably should have stood as Turner touching the ball constituted the taking of a free kick, however it was obvious to everybody inside Anfield that he was passing the ball back to the keeper to take the set-piece from where it was supposed to be taken from.
We profited from a massive mistake from the referee, however who can honestly say that Sunderland did not also benefit from a blatant referring error when Liverpool visited the Stadium of Light last year and conceded the controversial "beach-ball" goal?
I don't believe in Karma, but that was as close to Karma as it is possible to come.
Liverpool went close again soon after the opening goal as England international Joe Cole fed Fernando Torres before the hungry striker's curler went narrowly over the bar.
With 18 minutes played the visitors were gifted an amazing opportunity to level the scoreline as a feeble and illogical headed back pass from Gerrard put Bent through on goal. Thankfully, Reina was quick off his line and managed to clear before the prolific frontman could add to his already impressive goalscoring record.
Minutes later Meireles' ambitious effort from 20 yards out was easily stopped by the keeper, before a blatant handball by Christian Poulsen allowed the away side the chance to equalise from the spot.
Liverpool haven't had much luck from the penalty spot this week, and that bad fortune continued as Darren Bent powered the ball into the net even though Reina managed to get a strong hand to the ball.
Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool as two minutes later left back Paul Konchesky had to be replaced by Daniel Agger as the former Fulham man had been injured in an innocuous tackle with Sunderland's Egyptian loanee Ahmed Elmohamady.
Sunderland were now right back in the match, and went close twice before the break as Malbranque swerved the ball wide from the edge of the box soon after Elmohamady had sidefooted the ball over the bar from a corner kick.
The visitors' momentum carried over into the second half as they started the better of the two sides. A long ball forward after only a minute of the second period had been played was flicked on into the path of Danny Welbeck, who was speeding into the penalty area.
Reina rushed out of his goal and failed to get the ball whilst also barging into the19-year old forward in the process, leading to loud appeals for a second penalty to be awarded from the Sunderland supporters.
Fortunately their cries fell on deaf ears as the much-maligned Stuart Attwell, who has made several high-profile errors in the past and made quite a few mistakes yesterday as well, refused to give what seemed to be a clear penalty.
Undeterred, Sunderland pressed forward and got their reward barely two minutes later as a fantastic cross from Onuoha found Bent at the far post. Sunderland's number 11 rippled the net with a diving header to grab not only a brace for himself, but also a crucial lead for his team.
Liverpool still struggled to get into the game as a mis-hit clearance from Reina fell to Henderson, whose attempt to lob the keeper was foiled as Reina recovered in time to deny the Sunderland midfielder.
A minute later Lee Cattermole tried his luck from range, but it went well wide. Cole's snapshot also went wide on 63 minutes, however Anfield erupted soon after as the home side drew level thanks to a beautiful goal from skipper Steven Gerrard.
Torres' cross from the right was diverted by the tiniest touch from a Sunderland defender, however Stevie managed to re-adjust his run brilliantly so that he could head deftly into the net at the front post.
That goal re-vitalised both the team and the supporters as Anfield came to life in an attempt to urge the team on towards three vital points.
With 15 minutes left Ngog was set up by an excellent touch from the inventive Cole. The Frenchman found a yard in the box before firing a strike at goal, which the keeper could only spill out to Cole, whose rebound was blocked.
The ball then travelled out to the wing, before returning to the box and to Fernando Torres, whose acrobatic effort was stopped by Mignolet.
After that Meireles played Kuyt into a decent position, however the Dutchman's 20-yard blast went just wide as Liverpool began to control the game and create chances, something that has been lacking in our play for the majority of the season.
A massive six minutes of injury time were added, and Liverpool (more specifically Agger) went desperately close to snatching a last gasp winner on two occasions.
Firstly, the Dane was denied by a goalline clearance from Michael Turner as the defender, who Liverpool were interested in signing when he was at former club Hull City, diverted Agger's back post header away from the danger area.
Then, in the dying moments of injury time, Liverpool had another clear cut opportunity as Daniel Agger's free header went agonisingly wide of the post from a few yards out.
That miss meant that we had to settle for a point, which was disappointing because we should always expect to beat teams like Sunderland at home, however Bruce's side did perform well and were fully worth their point.
On 70 minutes Jamie Carragher had to receive treatment off the pitch after a head collision with Martin Skrtel. It echoed of White Hart Lane last season, where Liverpool's miserable campaign got off to a terrible start in North London after a similar collision had left Liverpool's backline depleted and vulnerable.
Although the analogy isn't quite complete due to the fact that this was not the first game of the season, I am beginning to worry that the turbulent season that ensued after that same situation last year might just unfold again this time out.
Six points from six games is not acceptable whatever way you look at it, and both the players and the manager must improve rapidly if we are to even compete for that crucial Champions League place.
I must conclude by saying a huge well done to all who attended the protest against the American ownership after the match. It was a clear message to Christian Purslow and Martin Broughton, who were both present at the game, and one which also reverberated around some parts of the media, gaining vital publicity in our campaign to oust the Yanks.
YNWA
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