Swansea City player Ki Sung-Yueng dives to head the first Swansea goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Sunderland at Liberty Stadium on February 7, 2015 © Getty Images

Bafetimbi Gomis almost opened the scoring after 10 minutes, but his thumping volley from Jonjo Shelvey's cut-back whistled just wide of the upright.

Jordi Gomez then saw his powerful strike fly wide of the post at the other end in a brief foray forward from Sunderland, but Swansea continued to show their dominance.

First Shelvey saw his scuffed strike roll agonisingly wide before Nathan Dyer wasted a good opportunity, and then Shelvey tested Costel Pantilimon with an arrowed strike from 30 yards.

Gomis was then presented with a good chance as he burst onto a through-ball inside the box, only to be smothered by the quick-thinking Pantilimon who came off his line to deny the forward.

A few moments later, the French forward was gifted a better opportunity from Dyer's low cross, but he couldn't divert his effort on target as he slid in to connect with the ball.

Five minutes before the break, Ki wheeled away celebrating what he thought was the opener after tapping home a free kick, but the linesman's flag cut short his celebrations.

Jermain Defoe of Sunderland celebrates scoring the opening goal with team mates during the Barclays Premier League match between Swansea City and Sunderland at Liberty Stadium on February 7, 2015 © Getty Images

Despite peppering the Sunderland goal, Swansea went into the interval a goal down after Jermain Defoe beat two men before lashing a low drive into the bottom corner three minutes before the break.

Sunderland were denied a penalty moments after the restart as Ricky Alvarez went down under an Ashley Williams challenge, but Swansea were soon on the front foot again.

Federico Fernandez lashed a volley over the bar from inside the area before Shelvey's dipping strike fizzed narrowly over the bar.

With little more than 20 minutes remaining, Ki marked his return to the starting XI with a goal as he headed home Kyle Naughton's right-wing cross to level the game.

Nelson Oliveira wriggled free inside the box and forced Pantilimon into a low save late on, but Sunderland comfortably saw out the last few minutes to take a point away from the Liberty Stadium.