England striker Michael Owen provided a timely boost for both Liverpool and national team boss Sven-Goran Eriksson as he fired his side to victory at Sunderland.

Owen struck with a beautiful chip 10 minutes after the break to kill off the Black Cats' brave challenge and leave the Reds breathing down the necks of leaders Arsenal.

It was a stunning finish from Eriksson's number one striker, but the Swede will have been equally pleased at the crucial part midfielder Steven Gerrard played with a slide-rule pass to unlock the Wearsiders' defence.

But the game was as close as the scoreline suggests, and Sunderland - who had Claudio Reyna sent off a minute from time for a second bookable offence after a rash challenge on Owen - will feel they deserved a point after a spirited display.

Their Premiership status is yet to be mathematically assured and there will be a few nervous moments yet at the Stadium of Light, but the bulk of those in a record crowd of 48,355 were at least able to applaud a rousing performance in which Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips both went close to an equaliser.

Peter Reid had demanded a return to the old ways ahead of the game as his side attempted to put any lingering relegation fears behind them, and he must have been delighted at their first-half display.

Liverpool, themselves looking to climb to within a point of leaders Arsenal, played most of the football, but they were never allowed to settle as the Black Cats hustled and harried them throughout.

Nicolas Anelka's pace, Jari Litmanen's invention and Dietmar Hamann's control were all on show, but even they could not break down the determined Wearsiders.

Indeed, Gerard Houllier's side escaped with a decidedly shaky start from their normally assured back four as the Wearsiders' high-tempo approach almost paid dividends early on.

But as the half wore on, the Reds flexed their muscles and made the Sunderland rearguard earn their corn.

The influential John Arne Riise was first to test Thomas Sorensen with a viciously dipping long-range effort with 10 minutes gone, and he went close again six minutes later when he blazed a rising shot over the top.

Jason McAteer caused Jerzy Dudek his only real moment of concern with a drive which sailed just over on the half hour, but Jody Craddock blocked shots from Litmanen and Riise in quick succession as the visitors started to turn the screw.

Craddock again came to the rescue a minute before the break after Anelka raced away down the left and squared for Owen, but the defender threw himself into the line of fire to protect Sorensen's goal.

Sunderland returned after the break buoyed by their first-half display, and went close twice within seconds, Stephane Henchoz denying Gavin McCann with a last-ditch tackle and Quinn powering a back-post header wide from Kevin Kilbane's teasing cross.

At the other end, Anelka blazed high over after being set up by Owen, but it was the England striker who broke the deadlock with 55 minutes gone.

Gerrard's defence-splitting pass put him in on goal, but the cool chip which defeated the advancing Sorensen was from the top drawer.

The Wearsiders stepped up a gear in a desperate attempt to force their way back into the game, and Quinn produced a fine save from Dudek with a 67th-minute volley.

But the game should have been beyond them with 72 minutes gone when Anelka again raced clear and twisted his way past both Joachim Bjorklund and Darren Williams before beating Sorensen, only to see his left-footed shot come back off the post.

Dudek climbed high to pluck a Phillips shot out of his top corner five minutes later, but he could only look on in hope two minutes later as Phillips arrived to meet another Kilbane cross at the near post but put his header wide.

Sunderland threw everything they had at the visitors in the closing stages but their disappointment was compounded at the death when Reyna lunged at Owen and, having already been booked, received his marching orders.

Teams

Sunderland: Sorensen, McCartney, Craddock (Kyle 80), Bjorklund, Williams, Kilbane, McCann, Reyna, McAteer, Phillips, Quinn.

Subs Not Used: Thirlwell, Butler, Haas, Macho.

Sent Off: Reyna (90).

Booked: Reyna.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Xavier, Gerrard, Hamann, Riise, Litmanen (Murphy 58), Anelka, Owen (Berger 90).

Subs Not Used: Smicer, McAllister, Kirkland.

Booked: Gerrard, Xavier.

Goals: Owen 55.

Att: 48,335

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).