Liverpool add to Sunderland misery as Benteke strikes again

Sport360 staff 02:37 31/12/2015
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  • Goalscorer: Christian Benteke.

    Christian Benteke was Liverpool’s match-winner for the second time in five days as he plunged Sunderland deeper into relegation trouble.

    The Belgium international, who scored the only goal against Leicester on Boxing Day, did it again at the Stadium of Light when he took advantage of some flat-footed defending 22 seconds into the second half to clinch a 1-0 victory.

    Liverpool might have won more comfortably had it not been for the first-half heroics of Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone, who produced a string of fine saves including one breathtaking effort to deny Roberto Firmino.

    The home side got men behind the ball early on, allowing Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho to dominate possession in the middle of the field, and the visitors created several chances.

    Mannone had to beat away Nathaniel Clyne’s 30-yard piledriver with just five minutes gone and was then relieved to see Firmino miscontrol Coutinho’s pass inside the penalty area after he had picked off Sebastian Coates’ loose pass. Coutinho then curled an effort just wide before landing a 17thminute free-kick on the roof of the Italian’s net as the Reds pushed for the opening goal.

    It was Firmino who almost broke the deadlock twice, first forcing Mannone to tip a long-range effort on to the post and then testing him once again with a firm header.

    For their part, Sunderland created a series of half-chances with striker Jermain Defoe causing problems for Mamadou Sakho. But all the good work was undone moments after the restart when Adam Lallana managed to get a toe to Clyne’s ball into the box and divert perfectly into the path of Benteke, who beat Mannone with ease.

    The hosts responded in determined fashion and Borini thumped a 54th-minute shot into Mignolet’s midriff after forcing his way into the box, and the Belgian had to make an important block from Duncan Watmore’s 78th-minute strike to cement the win.

    However, substitute Jordon Ibe and Benteke both wasted glorious late opportunities to put the game to bed.

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