A man of the match performance from Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson could not prevent Liverpool coming from behind to win in the Premier League Cup at Eppleton.
Benji Kimpioka had given the Black Cats a shock lead just a minute after half-time, but an unlucky own-goal from centre-back Michael Collins midway through the second period and a penalty won and converted by Rhian Brewster inside the final 10 minutes turned the game on its head.
But had it not been for 19-year-old Patterson, who made at least five magnificent saves over the course of the 90 minutes, the Reds would have run away with it.
Liverpool stay top of Group F with two wins from two games now, while Sunderland drop beneath Huddersfield Town on goal difference to third.
The Black Cats’ face Wigan Athletic at Eppleton in their final group game at the end of November.
Liverpool could have scored inside 30 seconds when Jack Bainbridge’s clearance went straight to Brewster, he played a one-two with Isaac Christie-Davies and then hit a low shot which Patterson did well to turn round the post.
And the Reds created two more chances before the quarter-hour mark, Christie-Davies hit the woodwork with a dipping volley from the edge of the box, and Patterson made another excellent stop to turn Brewster’s close-range header round the post from a free-kick.
Sunderland offered no threat going forward and spent virtually the entire opening period penned inside their own half, but their five-man back line defended well and the midfield acted as an effective shield.
As the half wore on, Liverpool became frustrated and began shooting from distance, but efforts from Herbie Kane and Brewster were way off-target.
And Sunderland stunned Liverpool by taking the lead within a minute of the second half getting under way.
The ball was sprayed out to Mumba on the right and his cross found Kimpioka, who controlled and turned Sepp Van Den Berg before firing into the bottom left-hand corner.
Liverpool continued to dominate and Anthony Patterson made two vital saves in the space of a minute just before the hour to preserve the Black Cats’ lead.
First he came racing off his line to make a block after Christie-Davies had been slipped in on goal inside the area.
And then he made a magnificent diving save to turn Tony Gallacher’s goal-bound strike from the edge of the box around the post.
Liverpool had another chance when a cross picked out skipper Pedro Chiravella unmarked at the far post but his touch was poor and Patterson collected the loose ball.
Christie-Davies then saw a shot deflected wide from just inside the box.
Liverpool finally got back on level terms on 67 minutes, but they needed a helping hand with the finish.
Luis Longstaff got to the byline on the right and crossed low into the box, Collins at the near post tried to cut it out but instead could only slice past Patterson from close range.
Despite conceding, Sunderland kept Liverpool at bay and Patterson made another fine stop, but in the 83rd minute Bainbridge fouled Brewster to give away the penalty.
Brewster smashed it straight down the middle and while Patterson got a foot to the ball, he could not keep it out.
How they lined up
SUNDERLAND: Patterson, Mumba, Bainbridge, Edmundsson (Kokolo 91), Collins, Gamble, Connelly, Sammut, Connolly, Dunne, Kimpioka. Subs not used: Newman, Greenwood, Taylor, Foster
BOOKED: Gamble, Kimpioka, Dunne, Connelly
LIVERPOOL: Atherton, Gallacher, Van Den Berg, Clayton, Larouci, Dixon-Bonner (Williams 69), Chirivella, Christie-Davies, Longstaff, Kane, Brewster. Subs not used: Winterbottom, Boyes
BOOKED: Van Den Berg
REFEREE: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester)
