Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier read the riot act to his misfiring team after a dismal first half at Manchester City.
The Frenchman's outburst would have reaped its rewards too had Anfield old boy Robbie Fowler not tapped home the last-gasp leveller to earn City a 2-2 Barclaycard Premiership draw.
But Houllier was honest enough to admit a point was all his team deserved.
He said: "The first half was not good enough. We didn't start to play until 10 minutes before the break. It was almost as if my team was not there.
"I spoke to them at half-time and asked them for a reaction and a response. We did far better after half-time."
It is difficult not to feel a little despondent about Sunderland at the moment because no matter what sort of spin you try to put on it, three back to back defeats is difficult to accept....
Read more