Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe feels his side showed great character to earn a point against Liverpool at the Stadium of Light after drawing 2-2.
Coming into the game on the back of a 4-1 mauling at Burnley on Saturday, Sunderland were not expected to stop an in form Liverpool side even though they were playing at home.
And the script seemed to be following a definite path when Daniel Sturridge gave Liverpool the lead, but Sunderland hit back to equalise when Defoe converted a penalty a few minutes later to level the scores.
Liverpool again took the lead in the 72nd minute through a Sadio Mane tap in, but the Black Cats showed immense character and earned another penalty in the dying minutes, with Defoe again showing composure to equalise for the home side.
The veteran striker feels Sunderland showed the kind of guts needed to bounce back from a heavy defeat on Saturday and were compact against a rampaging Liverpool side to earn an unlikely point.
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Defoe was quoted as saying by the BBC: "We worked hard and knew it was going to be difficult against a top team who would press us.
"We were compact and at times had to do two jobs.
“The spirit today was brilliant and definitely the reaction the manager wanted after the Burnley game.
“To show that character, we’re happy with the point.”
Defoe has scored eleven goals in 20 Premier League appearances for Sunderland this season.
