Sam Allardyce hopes 'big point' will help Sunderland believe

Sunderland's late comeback at Liverpool can give them a new belief as they fight relegation, according to their manager.

Sam Allardyce's side were 2-0 down having created little of note in 82 minutes, but Adam Johnson's free-kick and a last-minute Jermain Defoe goal rescued a point.

Sunderland remain in the bottom three, four points from safety, but Allardyce hopes their route to a result at Anfield can spark a change in character among the players.

"I didn't see it coming," he told Sky Sports after the game. "The players not laying down and dying was very important for them today - so many times we've been away from home and not come back in circumstances like this.

"I would hope it gives them more belief about how to conduct themselves for 95 minutes - keep the shape, keep trying to do the right things and if they get a break try to take advantage.

"Our first break was the goal from Adam Johnson which sent a huge shudder of nerves across Anfield.

"And because we've got such a fantastic goalscorer in Jermain Defoe, and because we started playing better with the ball and presented him with an opportunity a goalscorer got us back in the game.

"Hopefully down the line he's going to put the ball in the net to win us a game rather than draw it, but for us it's a really big point."

Recent arrivals Jan Kirchhoff, Wahbi Khazri, Lamine Kone and Dame N'Doye all played a part on Merseyside, and Allardyce said: "I think they're okay - they've come in a difficult period and made the squad better."