Question marks over Lee Cattermole's Sunderland role plus five other things learned from Liverpool draw

After defending doggedly for the best part of an hour, the pressure finally told and the Black Cats soon found themselves 2-0 down.

But late goals from Adam Johnson and Jermain Defoe rescued a dramatic point.

Here's what we learned from the draw:

Should Lee Cattermole be dropped?

It is a big question but Jan Kirchhoff's impressive form in the holding midfield role has led to many questioning the role of Cattermole in the side.

January signing Kirchhoff was man of the match in the narrow 1-0 Manchester City defeat and he started were he left off at Anfield.

Time after time he intercepted a Liverpool pass and played a key role as Sunderland made it to half-time still in the game.

He tired quickly though and the game passed him by second half before he was eventually subbed.

But with Kirchhoff in the holding midfield role, where does Cattermole fit in?

On several occasions he found himself the furthest forward of all the Sunderland midfield but he kept giving the ball away and gifting Liverpool possession.

Cattermole struggled, couldn't pick out teammates and mistimed tackles.

Perhaps it is worth playing Wahbi Khazri in a more central role alongside Yann M'Vila when Jeremain Lens is fit enough to return to the side out wide.

Vito Mannone proving Sam Allardyce right over keeper situation:

There has been much debate since Costel Pantilimon's departure as to who should be in goal for Sunderland?

Highly-rated Jordan Pickford is already a huge fan favourite but Big Sam has publicly stated Mannone is his man for now.

And he is proving him right.

Against Liverpool, the Italian stopper kept the Black Cats in the game first half, saving well from Alberto Moreno, while he made an important double save from Adam Lallana and sub

Jordan Ibe in the second half.

Another encouraging display.

Sam Allardyce's subs worked - eventually:

There were a few raised eyebrows when Allardyce opted to bring on Dame N'Doye out wide rather than Adam Johnson, when Duncan Watmore had to go off after just 25 minutes.

N'Doye is naturally a centre forward, a targetman, but twice now he has been deployed wide right after coming on as a sub.

And he didn't look at all comfortable - he also wasn't tight enough to prevent James Milner crossing for Roberto Firmino's headed opener.

But there can be no questioning Allardyce's other subs. DeAndre Yedlin on for Billy Jones shored up the right-hand side and added some pace.

And when Johnson entered the action he helped transform the game, with a pin-point free-kick to get Sunderland back into the match.

Promising full debut for Wahbi Khazri:

It was backs-to-the-wall stuff for the Sunderland team for much of the game at Anfield, with the Reds dominating possession.

And among those putting in a shift was new £9million signing Khazri.

One criticism from his time in France was his alleged unwillingness to track back and defend.

But he has done just that since arriving in the North East and he was at it again at Anfield.

He also ended the match with two assists, winning the free kick which Johnson scored from and playing in Jermain Defoe for the equaliser.

A good day's work and a promising full debut.

Lamine Kone looks a brilliant signing - despite not tracking Lallana for goal:

You'd be mistaken for thinking Lamine Kone had been playing Premier League football all his career, such has been his impact in his first two games.

He has slotted straight in at the back and his no-nonsense approach is just what Sunderland need.

The £5million January capture from Lorient also wins every header he goes up for and he looks a brilliant signing for the Black Cats.

That said, he should have tracked Adam Lallana more closely for Liverpool's second, allowing the England international to get away from him with ease.

But overall, it was another outstanding display and Kone will need to continue to produce that level of performance.

The point felt like a win, can it transform season?

Given Sunderland were 2-0 down with less than 10 minutes to play, to come away with a point at Anfield is quite some turnaround.

So much so, it felt like a win in many ways.

And if you are going to draw 2-2 then that is the way to do it - the wild scenes in the sold-out away end proof of that.

At the very least, this set of Sunderland players have shown they have the desire and fight and are capable of scrapping for every point.

Now they need to build on it and quickly string together some much-needed victories.