Liverpool extended their unbeaten run to seven matches and moved within four points of the top four with a 1-0 victory over Sunderland this afternoon.
Lazar Markovic got the only goal of the game at the Stadium of Light, poking the ball under the keeper from close range after just nine minutes.
Liam Bridcutt was sent off early in the second half for the hosts, although Adam Johnson did almost rescue a point with a swerving effort that hit the crossbar.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at whether Liverpool were worthy of the victory.
Match statistics
SUNDERLAND
Shots: 5
On target: 1
Possession: 47%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 12
LIVERPOOL
Shots: 21
On target: 4
Possession: 53%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 11
Was the result fair?
This was by no means the most entertaining match of the season, but Liverpool did enough over the 90 minutes to warrant the victory. The visitors created all of the best chances and, aside from the Johnson shot that hit the woodwork, Sunderland barely threatened at all.
The hosts were more in the game in the second half, particularly for the 10 minutes after they had a man sent off, but overall they can have no complaints at having lost today. Liverpool were the better side throughout and deserve all three points.
Sunderland's performance
Only Chelsea, the two Manchester clubs and Arsenal had lost fewer games this season than Sunderland going into today's match, so they will be especially disappointed to have gone down with such a whimper here. The Black Cats never got going and spent the vast majority of their time chasing the ball as Liverpool controlled possession.
They did rally immediately after the red card, producing a 10-minute spell in which they were on top and Johnson hit the bar, but that was as good as it got. Perhaps the most disappointing thing for Gus Poyet will be that his side only had one shot on target against a keeper low on confidence in blustery conditions.
Sunderland could now end the day level on points with the bottom three, and they will certainly need to improve on this display if they are to avoid relegation. It was a poor performance from the hosts, and the fans greeted the full-time whistle with a chorus of boos.
Liverpool's performance
It may not have been as thrilling as some of the victories last season, but Liverpool put in a good, solid performance today. They were in control for long spells of the match and prevented Sunderland from ever really getting into the contest.
A second goal would have been handy to give Liverpool a cushion, but as it turned out they did not need it. The defence kept a rare clean sheet and looked sturdy in front of Simon Mignolet, who himself had a good game against his former club.
The victory makes it seven games unbeaten for Liverpool and they certainly seem to have turned a corner recently. Just four points separate them from the top four now, and that remains the goal for the Reds this season. They weren't great this afternoon, but they were good enough to pick up an important victory.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Lazar Markovic: He has had a fairly mixed start to his career in English football, but this was Lazar Markovic's best game in a Liverpool shirt so far. The winger was a real handful in the first half especially, getting the goal and also striking the woodwork with a fabulous effort. He should have had a penalty after just three minutes too, but the referee waved it away.
Biggest gaffe
There weren't too many this afternoon, so referee Craig Pawson gets this one for not awarding a penalty to Liverpool in the opening stages. Markovic burst into the box and was clearly brought down by Wes Brown, but the referee neglected to point to the spot.
Referee performance
Pawson did not enjoy his best game today. He started with a poor decision not to award a penalty against Brown and went on to brandish a number of yellow cards in the first half. He eventually sent Liam Bridcutt off for two similar offences that were both borderline yellow cards, so the Sunderland man can perhaps feel aggrieved to have received his marching orders.
What next?
Sunderland: Next up for Sunderland is a trip to face in-form Tottenham Hotspur a week today.
Liverpool: Liverpool, meanwhile, will look to continue their unbeaten start to 2015 when they travel to face Aston Villa.
Barney Corkhill
