Welcome along to The42‘s coverage of Liverpool’s trip to Sunderland this afternoon. Jackie Cahill taking you through the action from 3pm.

And here’s the Liverpool squad:

One change for Liverpool as Daniel Sturridge comes in for injured captain Jordan Henderson. Fabio Borini starts up front for Sunderland against his former club.

Victory for Liverpool would see them cut Chelsea’s lead at the top to just three points, but Sunderland are desperate for a win too as they’re currently in the bottom three, two points behind Crystal Palace, who lie in 17th.

Here’s that Sunderland team for this afternoon’s game:

What are you expecting from today’s game? Let us know in the comments section.

Kick-off in ten minutes from the Stadium of Light, where it’s a big day for Jurgen Klopp and his visiting Liverpool team.

Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys

We’re underway at the Stadium of Light, today’s match referee is Anthony Taylor.

Jermain Defoe forces an early save from former Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, the home side’s first attempt on target.

That was a decent effort from Defo, and good hands from Mignolet. Encouraging start from the hosts, who were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty early on when Clyne looked to have been tugged back by Seb Larsson.

Superb save from Vito Mannone to keep out a low drive from Sturridge.

OOH! And another chance for Liverpool as Wijnaldum’s effort is tipped over by Mannone.

Mignolet forced into action again as Sunderland show some adventure going forward. Decent effort from Jack Rodwell from outside the box.

A vocal home support happy with what they’ve seen so far. Encouraging stuff from Sunderland but chances at both ends so far.

This time it’s Liverpool who go close – and it’s Sturridge once again, forcing a good stop from Mannone.

Liverpool starting to turn the screw a little, this time it’s Lallana who flashes a ball across the box and it’s turned wide for a corner kick by Seb Larsson.

GOAL! SUNDERLAND 0 LIVERPOOL 1 (Sturridge, 20)

And there it is! From the resultant corner, Dejan Lovren’s scuffed effort is headed home by Sturridge. A real poacher’s finish and the visitors ahead.

Sunderland appeared to have invited Liverpool onto them with their formation today and it’s that man Sturridge who’s put the visitors into a commanding position early on. This could be a long afternoon for the Black Cats unless they can find some sort of foothold.

Penalty for Sunderland!

GOAL! Sunderland 1 Liverpool 1 (Defoe (pen) 25)

The hosts are level and it’s Jermain Defoe into double figures for the season. Ibrahim Ndong went down in a Wijnaldum-Klavan sandwich and Defoe slotted home the resultant penalty kick.

OOH!! Defoe through one on one with Mignolet but the goalkeeper gets a hand to it, before Borini’s follow-up is deflected out for a corner kick by Klavan.

This has been a terrific response from Sunderland, who could just as easily have folded after conceding that goal to Sturridge.

Yellow card for Liverpool’s skipper for the day, James Milner.

Ten minutes to the break and this first half has rattled by.

Sturridge forces a stop from Mannone with a long-range effort and in the follow-up passage of play, Sunderland scramble the ball clear as Liverpool try to force the issue. At the other end a little while ago, Jermain Defoe was onside as the ball was fizzed into him but he couldn’t control it and the chance passed.

Inside the last five minutes of an entertaining first half.

Sturridge again on his left foot from distance, Mannone almost spills it but manages to hang on.

2 minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half, we’ve almost played one.

Half-time: Sunderland 1 Liverpool 1

Elsewhere, Manchester City are being held 0-0 at home by Burnley at half-time, and the hosts have had Fernandinho sent off. It’s West Brom 0 Hull City 1 and Everton 0 Southampton 0. Earlier, it finished Middlesbrough 0 Leicester City 0.

Liverpool will feel they need to push on and claim maximum points in the second half to come but Sunderland have provided dogged opposition. The visitors went ahead through Daniel Sturridge’s close-range header but Jermain Defoe’s 25th minute penalty has Sunderland level at the break. Back in plenty of time for the second half.

Jermaine Defoe slots his 25th minute penalty past Simon Mignolet for Sunderland's equaliser against Liverpool. Steven Paston Steven Paston

Daniel Sturridge had put Liverpool ahead with this looping header. Owen Humphreys Owen Humphreys

We’re back underway at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland to get the second half underway. Huge crowd present at Sunderland’s home, over 45,000.

Half-time substitution sees Alberto Moreno replace James Milner – the only alteration for both teams.

Hard to believe this is the same Sunderland team beaten 4-1 by Burnley just a couple of days ago. This would be a huge result for David Moyes and his men if they can hang on, and possibly nick a winner.

Yellow card for Seb Larsson, who pulled back Clyne. Referee Anthony Taylor allowed play to continue before taking action.

Gone pretty quiet at the Stadium of Light. Liverpool with plenty of possession but no end product yet.

CHANCE! Superb ball by Clyne and Mane should have scored from close range.

Clyne causing Sunderland plenty of problems from right back. Looked all over like Mane was about to score in his final game before African Cup of Nations duty but he couldn’t apply the finish.

Penalty claim! Januzaj appeals as he plays the ball against Emre Can. It looks like a spot kick. Good spell for Sunderland as Borini and Defoe had chances blocked.

Sunderland’s tails are up now again, just the kind of stuff the home fans were looking for to rouse them on a windy afternoon.

Half an hour left and it remains Sunderland 1 Liverpool 1 at the Stadium of Light, Sturridge flagged offside as Liverpool looked to get him through on goal.

Sunderland dealing comfortably with whatever Liverpool are throwing at them, and looking threatening themselves. This one could really go either way.

Long range Firmino effort comfortably dealt with by Mannone.

Another effort from Liverpool, but no power in Can’s effort from the edge of the box, after he was set up by Mane.

Ndong is another player heading to the African Nations Cup and he’s having a fine game for Sunderland, winning the first half penalty and providing real steel.

Substitution for Sunderland: Javier Manquillo replaces Jack Rodwell.

Another half chance for Liverpool as Firmino shrugs off Papy Djilobodji to win possession but it’s another tame effort into the arms of Mannone.

Big final quarter for both teams, Sunderland looking to climb out of the bottom 3 with a win, while a Liverpool victory would take to within 3 points of Chelsea at the summit.

Superb save by Mannone to keep out Sturridge, following a neat one-two with Lallana.

GOAL! Sunderland 1 Liverpool 2 (Mane 72)

What a big goal that could be for Liverpool. Papy Djilobodji diverts the corner kick to the back post and Mane has his 9th goal of the season.

Substitution: Divock Origi replaces Georginio Wijnaldum on the Liverpool team.

Strange scenes here as Daniel Sturridge is down inside the Sunderland box but play continues.

Innocuous injury there for the Liverpool man, went down without any contact but given his history, that’s a worry for Jurgen Klopp.

Sturridge limps off and will be replaced by Lucas Leiva.

Promising position for Sunderland as Defoe wins a free kick on the edge of the box.

Penalty for Sunderland!

Stonewall penalty as Mané sticks his arm out and blocks the Sunderland free-kick.

GOAL! Sunderland 2 Liverpool 2 (Defoe (pen) 85)

Clinical penalty from Defoe as he tucks the ball past Mignolet, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way. Crazy giveaway from Mané but Sunderland won’t mind as this could be a precious point for the Black Cats.

Now it’s Liverpool on the front foot as they win a free-kick in a promising position.

Easily dealt with by Sunderland as Klavan’s header saved comfortably by Mannone.

Papy Djilobodji clatters into Origi and concedes a free-kick. 5 minutes of stoppage time to be played at the Stadium of Light.

It looks like Papy Djilobodji may have to go off.

Big catch from Mannone as he comes to collect Moreno’s inswinger.

Djilobodji is back on as Sunderland look to see this one out and claim a precious point.

Another free-kick for Liverpool, this time it’s Borini penalised for a foul on Mané.

Poor delivery from Moreno and Sunderland manage to hack the ball clear.

Close! Lallana forces a save from Mannone with a long-range drive. Liverpool have a corner.

Moreno delivers and it’s another easy save for Mannone from Firmino’s header.

Mannone’s made 13 saves today, of varying degrees of difficulty.

Full-time: Sunderland 2 Liverpool 2

And that’s that from the Stadium of Light as Liverpool drop 2 precious points. The result moves them to within five points of Chelsea, but the Londoners can move eight points clear of the Reds with victory at Spurs tomorrow. That could be a really costly afternoon for Liverpool, with Daniel Sturridge limping off, but credit to Sunderland for showing real resilience, twice coming from behind with two Jermain Defoe penalties. Sunderland remain in the drop zone, however, but more positives than negatives to emerge from the game for the Black Cats.

Elsewhere today it’s finished:

Middlesbrough 0 Leicester 0
Everton 3 Southampton 0
Manchester City 2 Burnley 1
West Bromwich Albion 3 Hull City 1

Thanks for joining us on today’s Liveblog.