West Ham V Liverpool at Boleyn Ground

What Defoe wants is to ensure Sunderland continue to improve at a time when they remain four points adrift of safety and Manchester United are next up at the Stadium of Light this Saturday.

As former Sunderland player Micky Gray also pointed out, it could prove a valuable point for them too after relegation rivals Newcastle and Aston Villa both won, while Swansea City also drew.

Liverpool will be looking to get back to winning ways when they face West Ham in an FA Cup fourth-round replay at Upton Park on Tuesday.

“It is not too easy for me to say too much about it”, he said.

Klopp, who was absent from Saturday’s match because he had his appendix removed, was asked about the protest today.

And Allardyce – who claimed he didn’t notice the mass fan walkout on 77 minutes in protest at rising Anfield ticket prices – believes the nerves kicked in for Liverpool as soon as Johnson curled home his free-kick from a tight angle. I spoke to all my coaches and what I heard before (he saw it) was what I saw afterwards.

“Liverpool got a bit nervous when we scored, but the quality of the second goal from Defoe, I don’t think anyone could stop that. I have to collect more information”.

“We felt we were in control, then one moment changes everything, but there were still eight or 10 minutes where you have to be calm”.

“He was impressive the last session on Friday night so we thought if there was a chance for 10 or 15 minutes (playing on Saturday) we should try it”, Klopp said. “He can decide games, for sure, but only if we give him the opportunity”.

“Everybody at the club has a big interest in finding a solution for this”.

Liverpool midfielders Joe Allen (hamstring) and Cameron Brannagan (illness) will not play while centre-back Dejan Lovren is likely to be rested as a precaution after being taken off with cramp at the weekend.

Defoe said: “If you are 2-0 down at Anfield and you come back to get a point then everyone rightly is delighted”.