Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland: Barclays Premier League as it happened

Well, Liverpool appeared to be coasting towards victory and three much-needed points only for the away side to come storming back in the last 10 minutes.

In truth, the Reds - who were without their manager Jurgen Klopp this afternoon because of illness - will feel as though they chucked the game away.

But that should not detract from the efforts of Sam Allardyce's side, who showed tremendous spirit to level the match late on.

Thanks for joining us this afternoon!

FT: Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland

Four minutes of added time.

Will there be a winning goal? We're about to find out...

Amazing scenes at Anfield!

Sunderland looked to have pinched a point from nowhere, having been second-best for most of the match.

Jermain Defoe is the goal hero for Sam Allardyce's side. He rolled Sakho and found a much-needed goal for the Black Cats.

What a game this has become!

Goal: Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland (Defoe)

Time is ticking away at Anfield. And as things stand, Adam Lallana's goal is the difference between the two sides.

Can the Reds hold on for victory, though?

Well, well, well ... Sunderland are right back in this from nowhere!

Adam Johnson has found the net with a beautiful free-kick, which just snuck inside the post.

We're set for a grandstand finish at Anfield, in what's actually been a very one-sided match.

Goal: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland (Johnson)

Just over ten minutes left at Anfield and Sunderland appear completely bereft of hope.

They have barely posed a threat all afternoon and as soon as the Reds scored the opening goal, they appeared doom.

Sam Allardyce and Sunderland are heading for another defeat in the Premier League.

Firmino with the assist, by the way. He's been Liverpool's brightest spark this afternoon.

Well, that answers that question!

Adam Lallana has the second goal of the game and I fancy that secures the points for the Reds.

He strokes the ball in from close range following a move down the left side. It's all smiles at Anfield now.

Goal: Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland (Lallana)

There's around a quarter of the game left - can Sunderland find an equaliser?

They have defended defiantly this afternoon but, in truth, they have barely threatened the Liverpool goal.

Another chance for Liverpool!

The Reds really are bossing this - and it should be all over already. Ibe goes close to adding a second, but his ferocious drive inside the area is deflected narrowly over the bar.

That goal has been coming and coming... and coming.

It's been wave after wave of pressure from the hosts and they've finally got their rewards.

Liverpool have been the better side by far. Look who is warming up, too.

The Brazilian has opened the scoring with a cracking header into the far corner.

Firmino always looked to be the most likely candidate and he has delivered on his promise.

Liverpool lead at Anfield, at last.

Goal: Liverpool 1-0 Sunderland (Firmino)

The pattern of the game remains unchanged.

It's Liverpool coming forward in numbers, but lacking the creativity to breach Sunderland's stubborn defence.

Firmino - perhaps unsurprisingly - looks like the biggest threat for the Reds. Can the tricky Brazilian create a moment of magic?

There has been no word, by the way, over whether Jurgen Klopp is watching the game, or indeed, if he's had any influence on things during the match.

The Liverpool bench may soon have a big decision to make: Benteke or Sturridge? We're five minutes into the second period now, and we're still awaiting our first goal at Anfield.

Just in case you missed it earlier, here's reminder of the Liverpool bench for today.

Remember, though, they've already been forced into two changes.

Liverpool substitutes: Ward, Toure, Benteke, Sturridge, Lucas, Ibe, Flanagan.

Away from Anfield, a quick round-up of the other scores in the Premier League:

Tottenham 0-0 Watford

Aston Villa 0-0 Norwich

Newcastle 1-0 West Brom

Stoke 0-3 Everton

Swansea 1-0 Crystal Palace

If you wish to follow our minute-by-minute updates from those games, you can do so here.

HT: Liverpool 0-0 Sunderland

All square at the break, then. Liverpool have been the better side, but have struggled to fashion chances.

Time for Daniel Sturridge? We wait to see ...

Another Liverpool player bites the dust.

This really is getting silly for the Reds. Although I doubt Jurgen Klopp - wherever he is at the moment - will see the funny side of it all.

Well, things have livened up at Anfield!

Liverpool come close to the opening goal twice in the space of two minutes. Firstly, Firmino just fires the ball over from distance. Then ...

Željko Buvač is taking control of things on the touchline, by the way.

That's because Jurgen Klopp has missed the game with a suspected bout of appendicitis.

This is the definition of one-way traffic at the moment. It is wave after wave of Liverpool attack.

But there is no sophistication to their play. Remember, they've got Benteke and Sturridge on the bench.

There might be a change at half-time if this continues.

Sunderland are showing plenty of fight and spirit here. But their approach is also inviting trouble.

Setting out to defend for 90 minutes does not seem to be the smartest idea. But we can only judge that at full-time.

In the continued absence of Coutinho, Liverpool are lacking some creativity.

The Brazilian has the ability to unlock the tightest of defences with a cute pass. Will anyone step forward for the Reds today and provide some magic? We wait to see...

As the hosts continue to press for the opener, Daniel Sturridge has been busily warming up.

The Anfield crowd would sure love to seem him action at some point today. So would England manager Roy Hodgson, you suspect.

Another enforced substitution, this time for Sunderland. Almost half an hour gone at Anfield.

It's a case of attack versus defence at the moment. Liverpool are the attackers, just to avoid any confusion.

The Reds are probing the Sunderland defence, who are just about holding them at bay. But this cannot continue for the away side.

They need to keep hold of the ball better when they get it. At the moment, they're just pumping it up the field.

Right, Liverpool are already starting to ramp up the pressure on their relegation-threatened opponents. Sunderland are now camped on the edge of their own box.

The away side need an 'out ball', as they say, but Jermain Defoe might not be the man to provide it.

The Reds continue to press...

The Reds are huffing and puffing, but they're yet to blow that house down. Plenty of effort and movement from the hosts - they just need a little bit of magic to create an opening.

Fifteen minutes gone at Anfield and we're still awaiting our first meaningful shot on goal.

Liverpool's rotten luck with injuries continues. They just can't seem to catch a break, can they?

We're less than 15 minutes into the match and they've already had to make a change.

A calm start so far. Liverpool are in control, but have failed to fashion a chance of note.

Sam Allardyce will be fairly satisfied with what he's seen. The away side are looking solid at the back - how long will it last?

As expected, Jermain Defoe is the furthest man forward for Sunderland.

He ought to provide the main goal threat for the away side, who will look to steal something on the break.

Liverpool have pretty much been in control thus far, dominating the ball for the most part.

We're yet to have our first chance of the afternoon. Good start from the hosts, mind you.

Peeeeep!

We're underway at Anfield. Liverpool are wearing their traditional red, of course, and Sunderland are in their green away kit.

Tick-tock, tick-tock ... kick-off is almost upon us.

Right then ... less than ten minutes to go until a game that is sure to intrigue.

In case you missed the news earlier, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp misses the match with a suspected bout of appendicitis.

Meanwhile, Daniel Sturridge has been named on the Reds bench. Everyone - except Sunderland fans, perhaps - will hope he sees a few minutes of action.

Eyes will be fixed on Liverpool's star striker this afternoon. Here's what Reds legend Jamie Carragher had to say about Daniel Sturridge earlier this week...

"People do treat injuries differently. He is a brilliant player but there is no doubt he had to be 100 per cent fit to play," the former Liverpool defender told talkSPORT. "That's not criticism of him, that is just a fact. It is not just Daniel, it happened sometimes with foreign players.

"I am not talking about them shirking but they feel if their body is not 100 per cent they are putting themselves at more risk of injury, or they are not going to perform to the level they would like to."

Around 20 minutes, now, until kick-off at Anfield.

Stay tuned for all the live action from Merseyside.

And the Brazilian forward Firmino on his ever-improving form: "When I arrived here I expected it to be much easier to settle, but the first and second month were somewhat difficult.

"But I can say that I am getting used to everything now and things are improving. And I am feeling more comfortable in the environment."

Jurgen Klopp - who is not at Anfield this afternoon - on today's opponents Sunderland: "They have a few changes in the squad, they made a few transfers – and good transfers, to be honest. It will be a different team. They played absolutely OK against Manchester City, that's not too easy and everybody knows that in the league.

"They took a good portion of confidence out of this game, so that's what we will feel I think. But we want – and have – to do better than we did [at] Leicester because we were absolutely not satisfied with our performance.

"You have to strike back and that's what we have to do – it's not too important who is the opponent. We are at home and we need these points, that's what everybody has to know. Sunderland are maybe better or different than before, but we have to be too."

There will, of course, be a familiar face in the Liverpool ranks today for Sunderland fans.

Jordan Henderson initially struggled to adapt to life at Anfield, but has matured into one of the best players at the club over the last few years.

He'll be hoping to impress against his former club.

Big Sam is worried about being cast adrift at the foot of the table. Sunderland would dearly love to grab all three points today.

"There's a concern, there's a huge concern. We are in a huge battle to overcome the points difference with the games running out," he recently said, according to the Daily Mail.

"Like I've said, we are drawing closer to the stage where a draw is no longer required, it's a victory, and that's where I didn't want to be.

"That's why I have gone into the market for as many players as I possibly could, because the players previously haven't quite hit those consistent levels."

Some more on the team news (and a former Liverpool player)...

It'll be interesting to see how the Reds cope with the absence of a Jurgen Klopp.

The German misses this afternoon's game through illness, so the responsibility is being shared among the rest of the first-team coaching staff.

It's certainly a strange situation.

He's not fit to start but against all expectation, he is on the bench.

Welcome back, Daniel Sturridge. The Reds have not had him available for action since December. And they have missed his unique talents.

There was a lot of talk about Liverpool making big-money moves in the January transfer window. As it happened, the Reds couldn't secure the players they wanted.

Alex Teixeira was one sought-after player, but he ended up making a money-spinning switch to China.

On that missed opportunity, Klopp said: "A lot of people in Europe talk about the power of England because of the TV deal. Maybe now it's China.

"It's an individual decision. If you are 26 and get an offer like he did then everyone would think about it. I have no problem with this. I don't think it's a sign in general."

So Christian Benteke finds himself on the bench once again. The Brazilian Firmino is preferred in his position. Meanwhile, the local lad Jon Flanagan has to make do with a place on the bench, alongside Daniel Sturridge.

For the away side, Jermain Defoe will provide the main goal threat.

This one kicks off at 3pm GMT, but will have plenty of news to keep you occupied between now and then.

Right, the eagerly-awaited team news is in. And it is as follows...

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Allen, Lallana, Milner, Firmino

Substitutes: Ward, Toure, Benteke, Sturridge, Lucas, Ibe, Flanagan

Sunderland: Mannone, Jones, van Aanholt, O'Shea, Kone, Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M'Vila, Khazri, Watmore Defoe

Substitutes: Pickford, Brown, Rodwell, N'Doye, Johnson, Toivonen, Yedlin

The Reds would, of course, love to have Daniel Sturridge in their line-up today. He's still on the sidelines, but has returned to full training.

Of his star striker, Klopp recently said: "Daniel's back in training for two days, it's great. So everything looks good at the moment."

It goes without saying that relegation-threatened Sunderland could really do with a win at Anfield.

They are currently 19th in the Premier League, meaning three points would be priceless today.

Team news is almost with us, so sit tight.

Jurgen Klopp confirmed during his pre-match press conference that Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi will all miss today's game. "Daniel is back in training, that's great, since two days ago," Klopp said.

"Everything looks good in this moment. Now it is normal football training – really good for us and good for him. The day before yesterday he was together with Phil and Divock. If you see these three players then you know what you have missed for a few weeks.

"With Divock, Phil and Daniel in training, of course you think after five minutes maybe we should take them back into the squad. But that's the moment to say 'come on'; there are another three sessions which we can use and they are available for West Ham, that's the idea in this moment if nothing happens in the next session."

The players have arrived at Anfield and will begin their last-minute preparation shortly.

We should have team news for you at the top of the hour. So, stand by for that.

Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of the Premier League clash between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield. News from Merseyside this morning that Reds boss Jurgen Klopp will not be on the sidelines for the game.

The burly German has a suspected bout of appendicitis. Instead, first-team duties will be overseen by the remaining members of the coaching staff, including Zeljko Buvac, Peter Krawietz, Pepijn Lijnders and John Achterberg.

Anyway, stick with us and we'll have team news from both sides as soon as it breaks.