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Dalglish down on his luck

Image: Kenny Dalglish: Saw Liverpool struggle against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light

Kenny Dalglish feels one slice of good fortune settled a contest between two evenly-matched sides on Saturday, as Sunderland edged out Liverpool.

Reds boss admits his side never looked like scoring

Kenny Dalglish feels one slice of good fortune settled a contest between two evenly-matched sides on Saturday, as Sunderland edged out Liverpool. An uneventful encounter swung in favour of the Black Cats early in the second half, as Nicklas Bendtner bundled home from close range. He was in the right place at the right time after a low drive from Fraizer Campbell cannoned off the base of the post and into the back of Reds keeper Jose Reina. Dalglish was of the opinion afterwards that his side more than held their own before and after the goal, but concedes that there were few positives to be taken from a forgettable contest on Wearside. "I don't think it was a great game," he told Sky Sports. "It won't be frustrating for the Sunderland fans, they have won, but I don't think it was a great game. "I think we more than matched them and sometimes you come away with something, sometimes you don't. Today they got a bit of good fortune for the goal and that was the difference between the two teams."

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Liverpool struggled to create chances throughout against a resolute Black Cats side and Dalglish admits they never really looked like scoring. He added: "They did have a go late on. They never really got too close to getting an equaliser, maybe right at the death when it spiralled up in the air and Dirk (Kuyt) couldn't get a touch on it. "But the reaction was good to going behind, they were competitive throughout the whole game. "For all the attributes that Sunderland have, I think we matched them. They got the little bit of luck and got three points." Dalglish's starting XI came as a surprise to some but he claims it is important to give game time to the likes of Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates, who made just his second Premier League start. The Scot said: "It's important to give him a game because we have got a lot of games coming up. "It's important with Daniel Agger injured there that we see what Seb can do. We know he has looked very promising in the games he has played and I thought he did well today."

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