Bent's shot hit the beach ball (right) before going past keeper Reina

By Mandeep Sanghera

Liverpool's stuttering season took a turn for the worse as they were beaten by a Sunderland side who went above them in the Premier League table.

The Black Cats went ahead when a Darren Bent shot was allowed to stand after deflecting in off a beach ball, which a Reds fan had thrown on to the pitch.

Bent then headed just wide before hitting the post with an angled shot.

Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon pulled off a double save from Dirk Kuyt and David Ngog late on to secure the win.

A fourth defeat of the league season will only add to the question marks over Liverpool's title credentials after they were outplayed without injured midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres.

606: DEBATE Are Liverpool's title chances over after the defeat?

Ahead of a week in which they face a crucial Uefa Champions League tie against Lyon and host Manchester United, they only added weight to critics who label them a two-man team.

Liverpool were lethargic and looked at unease with a 5-4-1 formation manager Rafael Benitez had opted for as he tried to cope with injuries and tiredness after the recent internationals.

Benitez was probably hoping that full-backs Glen Johnson and Fabio Aurelio, as well as wingers Ryan Babel and Yossi Benayoun, would have more of an impact going forward.

But Sunderland, with a near-capacity 47,000 crowd behind them, did not let Liverpool settle and aggressively took control of the game before being rewarded with the lead in somewhat fortunate circumstances.

Bent's shot went in off a beach ball and, to compound Liverpool's misery, it was one punched on to the pitch by one of their own fans.

And, despite protests from the Liverpool camp, referee Mike Jones deemed the goal legal - despite the laws of the game suggesting he should have awarded a dropped ball - with Bent's tally for the season going to eight.

Sunderland were the opposite of Liverpool as they showed the greater desire and dynamism, with the midfield axis of Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole proving a forceful and tireless presence.

The home side's manager had challenged his players to produce the consistency in performance which earned an impressive 2-2 draw at Manchester United last time out and they did not disappoint.

Liverpool were limited to long-range strikes and Babel, Aurelio and Premier League debutant Jay Spearing each put efforts wide as Sunderland's defence stood firm.

Bent nearly added to Sunderland's lead when he got on to the end of a Phil Bardsley cross - after Reina had missed the ball - but the striker's glanced header went agonisingly wide.

He also pounced on a Martin Skrtel's headed passback only to nod past Reina and shoot against the outside of the post from a tight angle.

Sunderland suffered the loss of influential duo Cattermole and striker Kenwyne Jones, but coped admirably as they held off a Liverpool side lacking ideas.

Benitez and Bruce exchanged angry words on the touchline with the Spaniard accusing Sunderland of time wasting as the visitors searched for an equaliser.

Referee Mike Jones allowed seven minutes of injury time and Liverpool nearly took advantage only for Gordon to brilliantly keep out Kuyt's drive before blocking the follow-up from David Ngog.

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