Thursday 31 December 2015 01:35, UK
Sam Allardyce says Christian Benteke's winner for Liverpool against his Sunderland side was "lucky".
Benteke's second-half goal - made possible when Adam Lallana deflected Nathaniel Clyne's through ball into the Belgian's path - was enough to give Jurgen Klopp's side the vital win at the Stadium of Light, their second consecutive 1-0 victory.
But Allardyce rued his side's lack of fortune, while also praising the Black Cats for a resilient performance.
Allardyce told Sky Sports: "I think it was such a lucky, lucky goal for Liverpool. If they come out with some of the brilliance that they've got in Coutinho and Lallana, beat a couple of players and wrap it in the top corner, you have to hold your hands up, but this is so lucky this goal.
"We're a little unlucky there, but we have to face the facts and after all our hard work we didn't produce much quality, and when we did we didn't finish the chances off.
"A resilient performance, one where Liverpool did not look like creating too many clear-cut chances or opportunities, and if we can build on that and get a bit more luck.
"The injuries are a problem of course, and we're facing another centre half off injured [Sebastian Coates], so that's John [O'Shea], Seb and Younes [Kaboul] out.
"I thought the team did well overall, a good shape to the side, playing a Liverpool team with a huge amount of money spent on it and we often matched them."
Sunderland stay in 19th place in the Premier League table, seven points from safety, and face bottom side Aston Villa on Saturday at the Stadium of Light.
Allardyce praised the supporters' patience during the defeat, and hopes the atmosphere will be the same for the visit of Villa.
"We've got to try and chip away at reducing the deficit of points per game. We've got to try and catch up on games and points to get us equal as early as we can," he said.
"We've got to keep our nerve for that one [against Villa]. I thank the crowd for turning out today and their patience and the support they gave the players.
"We need them, and we need them more than ever. They were fantastic today and never got on the players' backs.
"Let's hope that's the case on Saturday, and this time come away with the three points."
