Liverpool snatched a point at Sunderland with a controversial 77th-minute penalty from substitute Jari Litmanen.

The Finn struck after Gary McAllister had been brought down by Stanislav Varga.

The challenge appeared to be outside the area but referee Graham Barber pointed to the spot.

Litmanen coolly converted the spotkick to cancel out Don Hutchison's 61st-minute opener and earn the Reds a point.

Liverpool began brightly and went close with six minutes gone when Steven Gerrard found space on the right and sent in a lob which caught Thomas Sorensen flat-footed but ran just wide of the goalkeeper's right post.

But Hutchison could have put his side ahead three minutes later when he miskicked in front of goal from Sami Hyypia's weak header, Stefan Schwarz smashing the loose ball high over.

It took a sweet clearance from Hutchison to avert the danger after Emile Heskey headed down a Markus Babbel throw-in into the six yard box.

The visitors could have been ahead on 13 minutes when Heskey found space down the right and sent a cross to the far post where the unmarked Fowler headed tamely wide, from a narrow angle.

Reds keeper Sander Westerveld was sent scuttling across his goal two minutes later when Varga's freekick was deflected just wide by Stephane Henchoz.

Liverpool were on the attack again with 22 minutes gone when the McAllister stepped up to take a left-wing corner, but although Hyypia got his head to the ball, he directed his effort straight at Sorensen.

The former Coventry City midfielder was in the thick of the action again a minute later when he picked out Gerrard's intelligent run with a beautiful pass.

But the England international failed to make the most of it when Varga cut out his cross.

Heskey, who was left limping by an earlier challenge from the Slovakian defender, was eventually forced to leave the field with 27 minutes gone, Jari Litmanen taking his place.

The home supporters were furious a minute later when Phillips went down in the box under Henchoz's challenge, but referee Mr Barber waved play-on.

Sunderland were enjoying the better of the possession as the half worn on and Phillips creating a shooting chance for himself with a powerful run, but drove his 36th-minute effort wide of Westerveld's right post.

However, Gerrard's precocious talent almost unlocked the door for Liverpool seven minutes from the break when he found space on the right and turned Michael Gray inside out before Varga again got in the way to halt his progress.

Hutchison became the second Sunderland player to go into the book for a foul on Gregory Vignal two minutes later, but the roles were reversed within seconds as Mr Barber produced the yellow card once again, this time to the Frenchman.

Varga came close to breaking the deadlock on 41 minutes with a well struck freekick which Westerveld had to get right behind to keep out.

Gerrard found himself in an advanced position once again within seconds of the restart when he cut inside Gray and fed the ball in towards Fowler, but the striker misread his intentions.

Although Varga was eventually at full stretch to intercept he managed to clear the danger.

Sunderland finally forced their way in front with 61 minutes gone after Phillips set off on a mazy run.

The striker was up-ended as he tried to round Hyypia on the edge of the box, but as the home fans appealed for a penalty, the Liverpool defence made a hash of clearing their lines and the ball fell to Hutchison who took his time before lashing a shot past Westerveld to open the scoring.

Gerard Houllier acted immediately to try to inject life into his side when he sent on Michael Owen in place of Gerrard, who limped from the field.

The England striker almost had an impact within seven minutes as he ran onto his keeper's long clearance to outstrip the home defence, but crucially allowed the ball to bounce once too often and the chance had gone.

Westerveld pulled off a good save on 67 minutes to keep his side in it when he just got his fingertips to Phillips' right-foot shot and managed to turn it around the post.

But the home side had a let-off a minute later as Owen chased after Igor Biscan's lob, but was muscled off the ball by Williams, but the referee was unimpressed.

It was beginning to look as though Sunderland would take the three points until Barber controversially handed the Reds a lifeline 13 minutes from time.

Varga sent McAllister crashing to the turf and it the incident looked to have taken place several yards outside the penalty area but Barber decided it was a penalty and Litmanen made no mistake from the spot.

Teams:

Sunderland: Sorensen, Williams, Gray, Varga, Makin, Hutchison, Schwarz, McCann, Arca (Kilbane 69), Quinn, Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Macho, Dichio, Oster, McCartney.

Booked: Gray, Hutchison, Varga, Williams, Phillips.

Goals: Hutchison 51.

Liverpool: Westerveld, Babbel, Hyypia, Henchoz, Vignal, Hamann, Gerrard (Owen 56), McAllister, Biscan (Wright 86), Heskey (Litmanen 27), Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Diomede, Nielsen.

Booked: Vignal, Litmanen, Biscan.

Goals: Litmanen 79 pen.

Att: 47,553

Ref: G Barber (Tring).