Dirk Kuyt's controversial penalty and a brilliant individual effort by Luis Suarez earned Liverpool a 2-0 win at Sunderland in the Premier League on Sunday, trimming the gap to fifth-place Tottenham to just four points.
Kuyt opened the scoring from the spot in the 34th minute even though the tackle by Sunderland defender John Mensah, who was later shown a straight red for a professional foul, brought down Jay Spearing outside the area.
Suarez wrapped up victory in the 77th, running along the byline and fooling goalkeeper Simon Mignolet with a clever shot that crept in at the near post from a sharp angle.
Any hope of the hosts recovering were dashed when Mensah was dismissed for wrestling Suarez to the ground as the Uruguay striker chased a clearance.
Tottenham, which has picked up just two points from its last three league games, has a game in hand over the Reds but Kenny Dalglish's side has the better current form as it chases a spot in the Europa League for next season. League position is the only avenue into Europe for Liverpool following its elimination from the continent's second-tier club competition at the hands of Portuguese team Braga on Thursday.
Sunderland, which is without a win since January, remained ninth but is now just six points off the relegation zone in a congested lower half of the table.
The crucial opening goal may have stemmed from fortunate circumstances, as Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher acknowledged, but Liverpool dominated much of the game.
''I thought it was a penalty but then I looked at halftime and I don't think it was, was it? It was just outside,'' Carragher said. ''Everyone knows goals change games - up to then it had been pretty even and Sunderland had been putting a bit of pressure on.
''Every week you can look at different incidents and you can always say it changes the game. Maybe it has gone our way but thankfully we got the other to make sure, so you could say we would still have won 1-0.''
Sunderland, which lost midfielders Sulley Muntari and Kieran Richardson to injury early on, passed the ball around neatly at times but all the cutting edge came from the visitors.
Kuyt had the best chance of the first half before the goal when the Netherlands forward smashed a close-range shot straight at Belgian goalkeeper Mignolet in the fifth minute.
The goal came when Mensah failed to keep the ball after he controlled it with his chest, allowing Spearing to pounce and charge toward the area only to be brought down by the Ghana defender a meter outside the box.
Referee Kevin Friend initially awarded a free kick but his assistant referee signaled for a penalty, much to Sunderland's chagrin. Kuyt made no mistake from the spot.
Mignolet saved from Suarez in the 38th before strike partner Andy Carroll had a header cleared off the line by Sunderland's returning captain Lee Cattermole just after halftime.
Raul Meireles and Suarez fired shots wide as Liverpool continued to dominate the chances while Mignolet had to be at his agile best to tip over a long-range left-footer from Spearing.
Suarez's second goal for the club since his January move then finished off Sunderland's challenge before Mensah ended his miserable day with a red card for a clear foul on Liverpool's goalscorer, who was praised by Carragher for his man-of-the-match display.
''Luis is a top player and he has given everyone a lift,'' Carragher said. ''Luis looked a top player and we missed him this week in Europe.''
