Lee Cattermole appears to just give up as Adam Lallana breezes past him down the right. He cuts the ball back for Roberto Firmino, but his drive is blocked.

Into the final 10 minutes. The home fans have found their voice and are roaring Sunderland to attack.  

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

Image source, Reuters

"Sunderland have to go for it. They have to throw caution to the wind and get the ball forward, even if it means going direct."

Image source, Reuters

What kind of clearance is this?

Roberto Firmino swings wildly at a corner and succeeds only in hitting the ball high into the air inside the Liverpool area. The ball falls at the feet of Duncan Watmore who shoots, but his effort is blocked.

A let-off for Liverpool. They need a second.  

Good work from Billy Jones, playing in an unfamiliar position, as he halts the run of Philippe Coutinho. Sunderland then break forward through the determined Duncan Watmore, prompting cheers from the crowd as he powers forward until Alberto Moreno goes in too heavy on him. Yellow card for the Liverpool man.

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

"Liverpool playing with freedom now, much more confidence and they can try things in the final third.

"Sunderland have not really offered anything and Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has not had a save to make in the second half.

"Sunderland need to bring in a decent centre forward. It is about risk and reward. The financial reward at the end of the season is enormous.

The last thing you need when you are struggling near the bottom of the table is a sizeable injury list, and Sam Allardyce loses a second player to an injury as Sebastian Coates has to go off and is replaced by DeAndre Yedlin.

Billy Jones looks to have gone into the middle of the defence, with Yedlin playing at full-back. It is a right patchwork defence now for Sunderland now, with a full-back having to play at centre-back. 

Philippe Coutinho hasn't got his shooting boots on today as he sends a dipping effort from the edge of the area straight at Vito Mannone.

I have colleagues at BBC Sport towers who get particularly infuriated by corners that don't beat the first man. I hope they were not watching this game just now after a terrible one from Sunderland.

Luckily for the Black Cats, I didn't catch who took it. Blushes spared.

Image source, Reuters

Sam Allardyce has managed to finish his cup of tea, that's good. He decides it is time to make his second change of the game and on comes Jeremain Lens for Adam Johnson.

You feel Liverpool could do with a second to truly feel comfortable.

They have the chance to get that when Christian Benteke picks out Philippe Coutinho. The Brazilian's first shot is blocked by Lee Cattermole before he launches the ball over at the second attempt.

Jordan Henderson received a bit of treatment towards the end of the first half and it seems whatever issue he has is too much for him to continue. He is replaced by Lucas.

Image source, Getty Images

 Emre Can brings down Fabio Borini midway inside the Liverpool half. As the referee is giving him a talking to and brandishing a yellow card, Jermain Defoe tries to sneak the ball forward a few yards. It makes no difference, as the free-kick is cleared.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland, to their credit, respond by forcing Simon Mignolet into a save. 

Fabio Borini, who said before the game that he was desperate to score against his former side, shows great determination to pick his way between a couple of defenders before shooting straight at the Liverpool keeper.

Sam Allardyce's half-time tea will have been spluttered all over the floor after that start to the second half.

Sunderland have been slow out of the blocks in recent games, and have been punished as a result. They managed to keep it together at the start of the first half, but that sluggishness raised its head there. Poor.

Key will be how they respond. Whatever plan Allardyce had in place, that's gone now.

Danny Mills
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

Image source, Reuters

"Livepool won the ball on the edge of the centre circle. Christian Benteke inside the area tucks it away.

"That is a manager's nightmare. A lapse in concentration, giving the ball away and it was sloppy defending allowing an easy finish. 

"The most worrying thing is how full-back Patrick van Aanholt threw his hands up in the area and started looking at his centre-backs. Maybe some disharmony in the Sunderland defence."

Image source, Getty Images

Crikey! Loads of people were still finishing off their half-time pies as Liverpool take the lead!

Liverpool slice through a sleepy Sunderland side, as Nathaniel Clyne's low ball is flicked through the defence by Adam Lallana and Christian Benteke finishes low from seven yards.