Sunderland manager reaction to Liverpool defeat

Sunderland manager Roy Keane was undoubtedly gutted after his side failed to capitalise on a good display to go down one nil to Liverpool.

Keane told safc.com "We were tiring in the last 10 or 15 minutes, which I take responsibility for, because maybe we should have had one or two more tougher games in pre-season."

"Other than the goal, I thought we played well."

"This time last year we scored three minutes into injury time, you have just got to take it on the chin, but performance wise, I was fairly pleased."

"I thought we played some good stuff today, we had one or two chances, but when you get chances against one the big teams, you have got to take them."

"If we had gone a goal up today, it would have been very hard for Liverpool, after their game in midweek."

"Liverpool were getting stronger as the game went on. When you drop off Torres like that, you know what can happen. As soon as it left his foot I thought 'goal'. That's why he costs a few bob."

"When we played Liverpool and teams like that last year, I hoped we'd get a result; this morning I believed we'd get a result. That's the big difference, that's the progress we've made."

"Liverpool will get on the bus and they'll be glad to see the back of us, and that's a good sign for us. It was a big result for Liverpool today, a big result."

"The new lads did well - but all the lads did. Some of our players tired in important positions, the last 15 minutes was always going to be tough for us."

"Bardo had not played much in pre-season and he gave a good performance, I can't fault the players, they all contributed today."

"But for all our effort and good play, we lost. We have got to take it on the chin, this is the Premier League, the toughest league in the world."

Vital Sunderland Says

I`m gutted that we lost a game that I feel we bossed for most of the game only to be undone by a bit of quality. Saying that we should have scored earlier in the game and it only highlights the fact we need a quality striker and sharpish.

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