Sunderland ...2 Liverpool ...1: Liverpool are not yet a big club in crisis - just ask Leeds United - but they are providing a pretty good impression, writes David Hopps from the Stadium of Light.
Their run of Premiership defeats increased yesterday to four, the latest courtesy of an 86th-minute winner for Michael Proctor that left Sunderland convinced, perhaps for the first time during Howard Wilkinson's reign, that they have it in them to escape relegation.
Sunderland, for all their admirable spirit, hardly deserved victory, but they have certainly contributed to Liverpool's faltering season.
As well as Sunderland's fortunate goalless draw at Anfield, Liverpool have also been jolted by defeats against Fulham, Manchester United and Charlton.
Everton, a point ahead of Liverpool - who would have predicted that in August? - will anticipate next weekend's Merseyside derby with relish.
Liverpool's latest setback was also partly engineered by an Evertonian, Gavin McCann, whose return from suspension added to Sunderland's midfield hunger and exposed the shallowness of Steven Gerrard's supposed return to form. Even a missed penalty by McCann in the second half did little to dim a prodigious display.
Suitably it was Gerrard who fell under McCann's challenge in the build-up to Sunderland's first goal. As Liverpool hoped for a whistle, McCann took possession a second time and chipped delicately over Chris Kirkland.
Sunderland are now out of the bottom three and Wilkinson had cause for satisfaction.
"We showed tremendous leadership and McCann in particular," he said. "To get pegged back and dig it out again - if there were any doubts about this side's character, this result should eradicate them."
It was a messy game on an increasingly treacherous pitch, but Liverpool had dominated the second half and deserved their 68th-minute equaliser by Milan Baros.
Their manager Gerard Houllier spoke later of "a very difficult period" and "confidence at its lowest ebb".
He added: "We will find solutions. How on earth are we are leaving this stadium with nothing? This is the worst month I have ever experienced."
Ten days before Christmas thousands of empty red seats suggested that pessimism on Wearside was easier to find than ready cash. Talk of a £5million transfer for Kevin Phillips once the transfer window opens, with Wilkinson making do with free transfers and loan deals, hardly helped.
Phillips had responded to his substitution in the home defeat against Manchester City in midweek with a shrug to the terraces.
He was one of the livelier players on view, for all that, in a poor first half. He dashed across Liverpool's back line to release Tore Andre Flo, then regained possession on the edge of the area only to send a low shot skimming a yard wide.
Liverpool, out of character, had dared to provide Michael Owen with attacking support away from Anfield; Baros grew in threat as the match wore on and should have equalised three minutes from half-time. Instead his dink was deflected wide by Jurgen Macho.
Liverpool do not make a habit of pulling back from a goal down in the Premiership, but they responded well after half-time and Baros was at the heart of it.
Macho's excellent save low to his right, to push aside Baros's 20-yard shot was outstanding. An adventurous dribble then brought a foul and a free-kick 25 yards out for Danny Murphy, which Macho pushed over.
McCann missed the opportunity to strengthen Sunderland's hold when he missed a penalty just after the hour.
Jamie Carragher, leaping to block at the back post with his hands stretched high above his head was judged to have handled; it was a borderline decision, TV replays supporting Carragher's appeal that the ball hit him in the face.
As McCann was about to start his run, something caused him to delay. When he finally shot, Kirkland, with a save low to his left, proved equal to it.
Liverpool's urgency brought an equaliser for Baros midway through the second half but Proctor's winner underlined how their luck was out: his first swing a fresh-air, the ball rebounded to him off a defender and he drove the ball past Kirkland.
Without that goal, Wilkinson would have been faced by a record of one Premiership win in 10, which would have been worse than the start to the season under Peter Reid.
Instead he could reflect on "only three defeats in 10", lashings of commitment and a first home league victory over Liverpool for 44 years.
It is amazing what a miskick can do.
Guardian Service
SUNDERLAND: Macho, Wright, McCartney, Babb, Bjorklund, Gray (Proctor 80), Thirlwell, McCann, Kilbane, Flo (Stewart 89), Phillips. Subs Not Used: Ingham, Thome, Bellion. Goals: McCann 36, Proctor 85.
LIVERPOOL: Kirkland, Carragher, Biscan (Diouf 63), Henchoz, Traore, Murphy, Gerrard, Hamann (Riise 45), Smicer (Diao 72), Owen, Baros. Subs Not Used: Babbel, Dudek. Booked: Murphy, Carragher. Goals: Baros 68.
Referee: M Halsey (Lancashire).
Title race: Top six Christmas schedule
From leaders to losers: Liverpool's meltdown
Nov 9 Away v Middlesbrough0-1
Nov 17 Home v Sunderland0-0
Nov 23 Away v Fulham2-3
Dec 1 Home v Manchester Utd1-2
Dec 7 Away v Charlton0-2
Dec 15 Away v Sunderland1-2
One point from 18
