Football
PA Sport 9y

Gus Poyet: We didn't lose just because of Liam Bridcutt sending off

Ten-man Sunderland lost 1-0 to Liverpool at the Stadium of Light as Lazar Markovic struck his first league goal.

The 20 million-pound summer signing from Benfica fired home in the ninth minute but despite a dominant performance the visitors missed numerous chances to make the game safe against the below-par hosts.

Sunderland were thoroughly outclassed in the opening half though the sending off of Liam Bridcutt after 49 minutes -- for tripping Emre Can -- seemed to galvanise them.

Adam Johnson struck the bar soon afterwards but it was to remain 1-0 to the visitors.

And Sunderland boss Gus Poyet said: "There was a bit of confusion in the first half. We were too worried with the shape of Liverpool and we didn't know how to cope with that.

"At the second half we started better, we were at least going forward with some danger, and then the sending off. (But) incredibly in football when you feel like you've got nothing to lose you start playing a little bit better.''

While Poyet was not entirely happy with the dismissal of Bridcutt, who was dismissed after picking up his second booking, the Uruguayan added: "We didn't lose because of that.''

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