Liverpool playmaker Coutinho taken off on stretcher

Origi was sent on just past the half-hour after Coutinho’s exit on a stretcher, later leaving Anfield on crutches with a protective boot on his right foot, after Didier Ndong’s follow-through accidentally caught him. He was never just watching the Premier League or the Champions League, sometimes the Dutch games, other leagues, he was interested in many things. The Belgian, who replaced Coutinho, received the ball on the left, created space for himself with fine footwork and got the better of Jordan Pickford. The onus would always have been on Liverpool to attack the Black Cats and for 75 minutes it seemed the home side would have to be happy with a draw.

Keeping the unfortunate theme of potential Liverpool injuries going, there are also rumours that Coutinho’s compatriot Roberto Firmino might also have picked up a knock.

Sturridge was left out of the squad entirely for today’s game and the Reds boss has revealed that the England global has been unable to train recently due to his own calf injury, but they have no idea when the striker will be back. Not with Sunderland unwilling to reprise the role of lambs to the slaughter that Leicester City, Hull City and Watford had performed on recent visits to Anfield.

John O’Shea was a menace for the Liverpool attack in Sunderland’s loss on Saturday. Sunderland had come to make things as hard for them as they possibly could.

Kuyt, who played alongside Gerrard for six years until 2012, says the former Liverpool and England captain – who announced his retirement last week – surprised him with his interest in world football when they shared a dressing-room.

Palace had the first opportunity as Yohan Cabaye’s corner was sacked over by Christian Benteke at the far post and went in front after 19 minutes when Benteke flicked on and Wilfried Zaha evaded his defender to fire home.

Jurgen Klopp’s side headed momentarily to the summit ahead of Chelsea’s early-evening showdown with Tottenham courtesy of the duo’s second-half strikes.

Klopp was believed to be battling temptation to dip into the market unless further injury struck, but now Coutinho faces a spell on the sidelines, a winter move should be on the cards.

He told Liverpoolfc.com: “When Div came in, it’s how it is in life, timing is very important and now he’s ready again and that’s good”.

As a result they pressed more and Sunderland were under constant pressure.

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In the event, it was a single blow from Origi that ended their resistance. It was exactly the kind of goal for which Coutinho has become renowned and it was his replacement who had scored it.

Despite Sunderland picking up their first and second Premier League victories of the season in as many games, they were expected to be in for a long afternoon at Anfield.

The hauling off of Coutinho due to a rather nasty looking ankle injury did little to raise the spirits of those watching. Subscribe here on iTunes.