Liverpool were consigned to their fourth defeat of the season when Sunderland striker Darren Bent’s fifth minute shot took a wicked deflection off a stray beach ball which had been thrown into the six-yard box by a young Liverpool fan behind the goal.

An unusually phlegmatic Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez refused to pin the defeat on the freak goal, even though the laws of the game strongly suggest that it should not have been given.

He focused instead on the paucity of Liverpool’s display, as the Merseysiders missed the injured Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres more than even the most pessimistic pundits had imagined.

However, Sunderland played exceptionally well and were unfortunate not to win far more convincingly, as they constantly exploited Liverpool’s re-shaped and shaky defence, inspired by a masterful display from Ireland midfielder Andy Reid.

And it would have been an injustice if Scotland keeper Craig Gordon hadn’t pulled off a wonderful double save in the closing stages to preserve the Black Cats’ slender lead.

Bent fired home what turned out to be the winner past a bemused Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, who tried to save the beach ball instead of the match ball.

And the summer signing from Spurs could have had a hat-trick with a bit more composure in front of goal after the interval.

Twice he rounded Reina, from a Kenwyne Jones through ball and then from a stray back pass by Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.

But Reina got back to block his first effort and his second struck the post.

The Black Cats were ultimately grateful to Gordon, however, for the three points.

During seven minutes stoppage time, Liverpool pressed hard for an equaliser. And when Gordon blocked a Dirk Kuyt effort, the ball fell to David Ngog, only for the keeper to produce an even better save to deny the young Frenchman.