Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland: Larsson shocks Anfield with stunning strike to claim point after Suarez misses penalty and scores in dramatic start

Suarez burst past the defense early on, but as he went to round Simon Mignolet in the Sunderland goal, he was cynically brought down by Kieran Richardson, who was lucky to escape a sending off as referee Phil Dowd produced only a yellow. The striker recovered to take the spot kick, but blazed his effort well over the bar. His downturn in fortunes didn’t last long, however.

Barely five minutes after the missed penalty, Suarez had the ball in the net, cleverly heading in from a sweeping Adam free kick to put Liverpool on top.

And the Reds had the ball in the net for a second time in the 21^st minute, with Andy Carroll taking Stewart Downing’s pass on his chest before tucking the ball into the net – only for a free kick to be given after Carroll was harshly adjudged to have pushed Anton Ferdinand in the back.

Liverpool was made to rue its missed first half chances, though, thanks to a moment of magic from Larsson. A throw in on the right was passed back to Sessegnon, whose cross to the back post was brilliantly volleyed in by Larsson, who found himself fully horizontal when striking the ball back across Reina and into the far corner.

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