Divock Origi and James Milner seal late victory for the Reds

Coutinho was stretchered off in agony after 34 minutes when his ankle bent at an awkward angle following a challenge with Didier Ndong, though there was no blame attached to the Sunderland player.

It left Anfield in a subdued mood and after a series of missed chances, Klopp came to the touchline to rouse the fans after an hour.

The German's intervention worked well as a renewed atmosphere helped Origi curl in the opening goal after 75 minutes with Milner converting an injury-time penalty after Sadio Mane had been flattened by Ndong.

And there was an even later debut for 17-year-old local lad Ben Woodburn of whom great things are expected.

Despite two wins in a row, Sunderland manager David Moyes unashamedly admitted before Saturday's game that he would try to park a double-decker bus at Anfield.

Lamine Kone lived up to instructions with a fantastic block from Coutinho in the early stages and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was protected well enough in the opening 20 minutes to make only one save.

When Coutinho fed Georginio Wijnaldum, the Dutchman turned sharply and fired in a shot that Pickford dived to his left to keep out.

Sunderland didn't venture forward often but at least tried to show attacking teeth when they did. Home sweeper-keeper Loris Karius needed to be sharp out of his box to smother Steven Pienaar after the bounce of the ball had favoured the Sunderland player.

Liverpool had failed to score at Southampton last week, provoking the surprising question whether their goals would dry up in the absence of injured Adam Lallana.

With Daniel Sturridge also injured and Anfield surprisingly quiet, Moyes reached the quarter-point relatively satisfied.

A shocking lack of communication between Karius and Nathaniel Clyne saw the 'keeper slice a pass straight out for a corner. It was that sort of a start.

Skipper Jordan Henderson, playing against his first club, tried to raise the tempo with a fiery but fair tackle on Ndong.

His teammates responded. Wijnaldum broke forward before firing wide and Sadio Mane tested Patrick van Aanholt on the right flank.

The sombre mood returned just after the half-hour mark and with good reason.

Ndong's challenge on Coutinho as the Brazilian was about to shoot looked innocuous but Liverpool's star man was clearly in pain as he hit the floor.

Medics took their time as they carefully placed him on the stretcher and Jurgen Klopp had instructed Divock Origi to replace him even before Coutinho was carried off to sympathetic applause from The Kop, covering his face to hide his discomfort with what appeared to be an ankle injury caused by the ball being forced onto his foot.

Dejan Lovren and Emre Can then went wide with a headers and Mane had a shot comfortably into Pickford's midriff approaching half-time.

But as Liverpool trudged in at the interval, never were Klopp's fabled powers of motivation more needed.

His players did start the second period at a quicker tempo in front of a watching Steven Gerrard but the composure was still lacking. Nathaniel Clyne took a poor first touch when he exploded into the area and then Firmino slipped as he was about to take aim from close range.

Firmino, trying hard to take over the talisman role from his stricken compatriot, then tried to beat Pickford at his near post but the 'keeper was wise to it.

The mood inside the stadium was getting anxious, even sullen. And when there were a few groans to accompany a misplaced pass by Henderson, Klopp leapt along the touchline facing the fans, throwing his arms in the air to encourage them to make some noise.

The reaction in terms of atmosphere was instant. Emre Can could have raised the volume even further but hit a chance on the edge of the box wide.

Firmino then unselfishly squared across the box rather than have a shot but he put too much on it and the ball flashed past Origi and Wijnaldum.

Then a backheel from an unlikely source, Lovren, set up Mane but from point-blank range Pickford spread himself and kept him out.

After 75 minutes, the Sunderland bus finally ran out of battery. Joel Matip squirted a flat low cross into the box and when the visitors failed to clear their lines, Origi brilliantly curled his finish past Pickford into the bottom right-hand corner.

The Belgian had done precious little until then but that moment of class gave Liverpool a huge lift when they needed it.

Source: MailOnline

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