When Fabio Borini hurtled off down the tunnel after being sent off against Arsenal for two stupid yellow cards, we thought it might be the last we saw of the non-scoring Italian forward in a Liverpool shirt. But, shock of shocks, he starts today against Sunderland.

A frantic end to the match, but Liverpool hang on. They deserve the three points even if it wasn't pretty.

Chance for Mandron, but he nods over the bar. That was a late chance to rescue a point from this one, but not taken.

We are into three minutes of time added on at the Stadium of Light.

Liverpool are one win short of becoming the first team to register the equivalent of 6500 points in top flight football.

Henderson's hopeful cross is swept clear by Brown. Sunderland try to build from the back.

Liverpool content to clear the danger by walloping clear. Home fans begin to drift towards the exits here.

Can Mandron comes up with a late equaliser for Sunderland? Looks unlikely it must be said.

Liverpool making heavy weather of this in the wind. No guarantee of three points with a one-goal lead.

Balotelli takes a tumble in the Sunderland half to more ironic cheers. It won't matter if the scoreline stays the same.

Henderson tries his luck from distance, but the free-kick is well over the bar.

Liverpool won their last Premier League away match by a 1-0 scoreline (at Burnley on Dec 26). They have not won successive top-flight away matches by a 1-0 scoreline since Oct-Nov 1976 – when they won 1-0 at Leicester and 1-0 at today’s opponents Sunderland in Nov 1976.

An offside flag goes up against Buckley after he set off too soon. 10 minutes or so remaining.

Balotelli ghosts in front of Wes Brown, but he can't direct the ball on goal as the header flies well over the bar.

Wind continues to make a nuisance of itself with Liverpool holding this narrow 1-0 lead. Can they see this match through?

A double switch coming here for Sunderland as Giaccherini is replaced by Buckley and Wickham makes way for Graham.

O'Shea almost manages to turn a volley into the net from the Larsson corner. Nervous moments for Sunderland, but they again survive.

Moreno just fails to connect with the loose ball in the middle. Liverpool yet to grab the second goal that will put this match to bed.