Liverpool 0 Sunderland 0: Brendan Rodgers satisfied with ‘good’ week

Brendan Rodgers was satisfied with a “good” week for Liverpool despite their goalless draw with Sunderland at Anfield.

Liverpool, who left captain Steven Gerrard on the bench, struggled to create too many openings against a Sunderland side buoyed by their three-game unbeaten run.

We’ve taken seven points from nine this week which is a good return for us

Brendan Rodgers

The veteran midfielder was introduced in the second half as the Reds pressed for a winner, and Raheem Sterling had a late penalty claim waved away.

Liverpool drop to ninth in the table after Newcastle United beat leaders Chelsea, but the Reds manager was pleased with a return of seven points from three games.

“I thought the players gave everything and in the second half. They needed a wee bit of luck and it didn’t come,” Rodgers told BBC Sport.

“If you can’t win it’s important you don’t lose. We’ve taken seven points from nine this week which is a good return for us.”

On the captain’s introduction, Rodgers added: “Stevie [Gerrard] coming on gave everyone a lift. I thought him and Raheem [Sterling] were outstanding.”

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet was disappointed with a point after striker Connor Wickham and defender Wes Brown spurned half-chances at Anfield.

“I think there are times in life when you get opportunities. Today we lost a great opportunity to win at Anfield,” Poyet said.

“In terms of defending and keeping a clean sheet we went back to the basics.

“We need to score more goals and be more clinical. The most important thing is to win and at the moment we cannot win too many.”