- Coutinho stretchered off
- Origi breaks through
- Milner adds PK
Liverpool was always going to prevail on the scoreboard but the Reds will be sweating a scary Philippe Coutinho after a 2-0 win over Sunderland at Anfield on Saturday.
A tackle from Didier Ndong sent Coutinho off the field on a stretcher, his right leg braced.
Substitute Divock Origi put the Reds ahead with a second half goal, and James Milner converted a Sadio Mane-won penalty to ice the three points.
The two-goal win sends Liverpool ahead of Man City on goal differential, two points about Chelsea before the Blues face Spurs.
Sunderland is back in the Premier League basement thanks to the loss and Swansea’s win.
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Liverpool won a corner just outside the first minute, but Jordan Pickford collected Philippe Coutinho’s offering and we were already moving.
Pickford later dove to catch a turn-and-fire from Georginio Wijnaldum, as the Reds settled into their attack.
Sunderland did its best to hit on the counter, and Loris Karius was available on the pair of early occasions that required his intervention.
Coutinho spent several minutes on the turf after a scary ankle injury, and had to be stretchered off following a spell with trainers. Divock Origi replaced him.
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5 - Five of Divock Origi's six Premier League goals for Liverpool have come as a substitute. Option.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 26, 2016
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James Milner couldn’t reach Wijnaldum’s 53rd minute pass across the six despite a sliding attempt, and it remained 0-0.
Emre Can came very close in the 65th minute, opening the play with a outside of the foot pass before slicing his low shot wide of the far post from 15 yards.
The Black Cats had a rare period of danger in the Reds’ end with 23 minutes to play, but Karius was able to stop Duncan Watmore’s effort.
Firmino then played a ball across the six to no receiver, as the Reds were back at it.
Origi finally found the finish in the 75th minute. The Belgian curled a shot from the right edge of the 18 that nestled inside the far post to make it 1-0.
Sadio Mane then won a penalty kick from an Ndong takedown, and James Milner stepped up to do what he does: convert PKs.
