Sunderland were back in action against Liverpool on Saturday night

Sunderland fell to a 4-2 defeat to Liverpool in the friendly of their US tour.

The game was level 1-1 at the break after a stunning equaliser from Enzo Le Fee, but Liverpool were too strong for a young Black Cats side in the second half and in the end ran out comfortable winners. Régis Le Bris again fielded two different sides in each half, with his more experienced XI beginning the contest before a primarily academy XI taking over for the second.

Here’s how it all played out in Nashville...

The first half

Both teams remain heavily impacted by the World Cup, but with Isidor, Ballard and Mundle back in action it was Sunderland who fielded the more experienced XI and much of the first half it showed. They certainly had the better of the opening exchanges without creating any clear opportunities, with Ballard stepping out nicely from the back and dictating proceedings.

Liverpool nevertheless needed only one opportunity to get ahead, scoring a lovely team effort that began with McConnell stepping up from the back and finding Rio Ngumoha infield. He in turn found Elliott, who drove to the edge of the box and slid in Kieran Morrison. Morrison cut inside Reinildo and curled an excellent effort into the bottom corner.

The goal seemed to jolt Sunderland into action a little, who began to play with a touch more purpose and intensity even if chances remained elusive. Rigg and Le Fée were combining nicely, though, and that paid off handsomely just before the half-hour mark. Rigg did well to read the play and win the ball back off McConnel with a strong challenge, quickly releasing the ball to his team mate. Le Fée drove to around 25 yards out and having determined that the pass to a team mate wasn't on, instead unleashed a stunning effort on his weaker foot back across goal and into the top corner. It was a genuinely world-class strike, and put Sunderland firmly in the ascendancy. A couple of good opportunities followed, Mundle firing an effort from close range just too close to Mamardashvili before Rigg's follow-up was well blocked. Rigg then slid Isidor through on goal but the striker just couldn't get his shot away before the angle narrowed against him.

Liverpool came through that spell of pressure and enjoyed some possession before the break, but Rigg then found Le Fée with an excellent ball into the box and had the midfielder been able to take a better touch he might well have sent Sunderland into the interval ahead.

First half XI: Ellborg; Mukiele, Ballard, O’Nien, Reinildo; Browne, Rigg, Le Fee; Hume, Mundle, Isidor

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The second half

The second half had a very different feel as Le Bris fielded a very young Sunderland XI, while Liverpool were bolstered by Iraola's introduction of seasoned campaigners such as Szoboszlai, Kerkez and Chiesa. It was the young Black Cats who seized the initiative, however, starting the half brightly and capitalising on a slip in the Liverpool defence. Tutierov gathered possession and continued his run into the heart of the box, firing through the legs of Mamardashvili after Jaydon Jones found him with a smart pass.

The game then began to take on a more expected shape as Liverpool started to dominate possession, but it took a moment of exceptional quality similar to Le Fée's to break to level the scores. Sunderland thought they had defended the danger from a break down their left flank, but an attempted clearance found Szoboszlai on the edge of the area and after teeing himself up with his chested first touch, the midfielder arrowed a stunning volley through a crowd of defenders and in at the near post.

Liverpool continued to dominate proceedings though Sunderland defended resolutely, but a lapse in concentration was ruthlessly punished as Chiesa's run into the box wasn't tracked. Ramsay found him with a smart pass and from there the Italian was never going to miss, driving an effort into the top corner. To their credit Sunderland rallied again, though they were unable to turn their spells of possession and a few set pieces into clear chances. Liverpool continued to threaten and put the game to bed when the Black Cats gave it away loosely in midfield, Szoboszlai once again showing his class and composure to tee up Lewis Koumas for an emphatic finish.

The scoreline was a little harsh on Sunderland's youngsters who had competed well for much of the half, but found themselves undone by Liverpool's undoubted quality.

Second half XI: Ellborg (Moore, 66); Jones, Seelt, Hjelde, Lightfoot; Jones, Proctor, Whittaker; Geragusian, Tutierov, Ogunsuyi