Defoe scores late equaliser to complete Sunderland's comeback at Liverpool

Liverpool - Jermain Defoe capped a dramatic Sunderland fightback as the Premier League struggler recovered from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Liverpool on Saturday.

Goals from Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana seemed to be enough to give Liverpool all three points, but Adam Johnson's 82nd-minute free-kick started the revival and Defoe's 89th-minute strike stunned a half-empty Anfield.

Thousands of Liverpool supporters missed their team's late meltdown after walking out of the ground after 77 minutes in protest at the club's announcement of ticket price rises in the newly refurbished Anfield.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was also spared the sight of his team's collapse as he was absent with a bout of appendicitis, leaving assistant manager Zeljko Buvac to pull the strings.

The Reds' insipid 2-0 loss at Leicester City in midweek virtually ended their already distant hopes of a top-four place this term, but in comparison with Saturday's visitor to Merseyside, Liverpool is having a great season.

Sunderland went to Anfield with just two wins in its last 11 matches in all competitions, and seemed to be lurching towards an inevitable relegation until this stirring recovery.

Liverpool named Daniel Sturridge on the bench following a prolonged injury absence that has raised questions about his long-term future at Anfield.

And it could have done with Sturridge's talents early on in this match as the opening moments were notable for nothing apart from the loss of Dejan Lovren to injury after 11 minutes.

The match appeared to finally wake up after 20 minutes when an Alberto Moreno shot was impressively blocked by Vito Mannone as Liverpool looked like it had found some fluency.