Sunderland 2 Liverpool 1
Substitute Michael Proctor struck at the death to earn struggling Sunderland a precious Premiership victory over faltering title hopefuls Liverpool.
Proctor, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, beat Chris Kirkland with his 85th-minute strike to condemn the Reds to a fourth successive league defeat and end his own side's five-game run without a victory.
Sunderland, who had brought their goal drought to an end after 514 minutes with Gavin McCann's 36th-minute opener, could even afford a penalty miss by the same player and an equaliser by Milan Baros.
The home side rode their luck at times and had the brilliance of goalkeeper Jurgen Macho to thank on several occasions, but they worked hard to match Liverpool for long periods.
McCann, back from suspension with something to prove, and under-fire strike-force Kevin Phillips and Tore Andre Flo set the tone as they confronted their markers with gusto on a foul afternoon on Wearside.
Flo and Phillips combined well with 12 minutes gone to present Kevin Kilbane with a shooting chance, and the Republic of Ireland international was unfortunate to see his first-time effort sail just wide.
The pair linked up again on 24 minutes when Phillips turned Stephen Wright's clearance into the Norwegian's path and then sped into the box to receive a return pass and hammer a low shot a yard wide.
Sunderland finally ended their barren spell nine minutes before half-time with a goal fitting for any occasion.
McCann's tackle sent the ball spinning out to Flo, but he continued his run to receive the striker's pass and lift a shot over Chris Kirkland.
It was little more than Sunderland deserved with Macho having to deal with only a powder-puff Michael Owen effort up to that point, but his afternoon was to become a little busier before half-time.
The Austrian pulled off a regulation 41st-minute save from Vladimir Smicer to keep his side ahead, but then had to block with his legs seconds later after Baros accepted Danny Murphy's pass and looked certain to score from point-blank range.
With so much at stake for both sides, there was never likely to be any let-up after the break, and that proved the case.
Macho again distinguished himself with a good stop from Baros, but went one better with 52 minutes gone when he clawed Murphy's free-kick out of his top corner after it had cleared a nine-man defensive wall.
The England midfielder was inches away from claiming the equaliser five minutes later when he took Owen's pass but shot just wide before the turning point came.
Jamie Carragher handled Phillips' 60th-minute header from a deflected Flo cross, giving McCann the chance to make it 2-0 from the spot.
The midfielder went low and hard to Kirkland's left, but the goalkeeper guessed correctly and got down well to keep his side in the game.
That was the signal for the visitors to once again lay siege to the Sunderland goal, and their efforts paid off with 68 minutes gone when Carragher's pass found Baros and he turned smartly before sending a low shot past Macho and into the net.
Sunderland could have crumbled at that point and almost did as Owen, substitute El Hadji Diouf and Baros all went close, but they too had another chance when former Red Phil Babb met a Paul Thirwell corner with a firm header but could not beat Kirkland.
Macho got down well to keep out an 82nd-minute Owen effort as it leapt up off the sodden turf, but there was to be yet more drama.
Proctor, an 80th-minute replacement for Michael Gray, turned up on the end of a deflected Phillips cross and completely miskicked with his first attempt, but as Kirkland rushed from his line, he took another swing and managed to steer the ball into the empty net for an valuable winner.