Phil Thompson is clearly a changed man. Having made a conscious effort to curb his hot head since assuming temporary management duties on Merseyside, he was back doing what comes naturally here before his afternoon ended in sheepish apology.
This fractious encounter proved too much for the caretaker manager, who was riled by the dismissal of his German international midfielder Dietmar Hamann just before half-time under challenge from the visitors' Bernt Haas.
Thompson felt the Sunderland defender had overreacted and pushed the Swiss international away as he attempted to shake hands at the whistle. They will appeal against the dismissal, though their frustrations boiled over into an angry tussle in the tunnel. Amid the furore, it was easy to forget that Liverpool had in fact extended their lead at the top.
"I've apologised to him," said the caretaker-manager, not usually one to climb down. "But I was disappointed with his initial reaction [after Hamann's challenge]. I just got carried away."
Had the challenge been a little higher, then Haas would have exited on a stretcher. The incident was sparked by his poor first touch; the referee Steve Bennett was standing behind Hamann and saw him pounce two-footed at the loose ball as Haas stretched to regain possession. That the German made contact more with leather than shin was neither here nor there, with the intent justifying a red card.
The officials needed a police escort from the pitch at the interval, though the home support conveniently overlooked the fact that Steven Gerrard, booked for an earlier foul, had slid in illegally on Jason McAteer. That challenge was even higher, yet the advantage was played and Gerrard stayed on.
Liverpool's first-half superiority should have yielded more than Emile Heskey's first goal in 20 games, nodded home from Danny Murphy's free-kick.
In truth, Emerson Thome's inability to pick him up on that occasion was indicative of the Brazilian's shoddy display.
Early on Robbie Fowler jinked beyond Darren Williams before crunching a shot into the side netting. Fowler then headed Sami Hyypia's cross straight at Sorensen before sending Gerrard clear only for the midfielder to drag across goal.
It was Kevin Phillips who posed Sunderland's sporadic threat, skimming a 30-yard effort just wide of Jerzy Dudek's near post and then curling a shot that was tipped aside. Both of those efforts came before Hamann's early exit.
The visitors' fitful pursuit of parity suited Liverpool. As the visitors pushed up hoping to make their numbers tell, ample space gaped open in which home attackers revelled.
Michael Owen, rested here after complaining of stiffness in his hamstring, would have had a field day.
Yet the best was fluffed by Gary McAllister. Gerrard's long pass was taken on the chest by Smicer, who tore to the byline and cut back a cross.
With Heskey occupying two defenders at the near post, the ball ran gently to the edge of the six-yard box, where the Scot skied the easiest of chances over the bar.
LIVERPOOL: Dudek, Carragher, Henchoz, Hyypia, Riise, Murphy (Berger 68), Hamann, Gerrard, Smicer (Wright 76), Heskey, Fowler (McAllister 45). Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Litmanen. Sent Off: Hamann (44). Booked: Gerrard. Goals: Heskey 22.
SUNDERLAND: Sorensen, Haas, Williams (McCartney 72), Thome, Gray, McAteer, McCann, Thirlwell (Laslandes 76), Arca (Butler 58), Quinn, Phillips. Subs Not Used: Schwarz, Macho. Booked: Haas, Thome, McAteer.
Referee: S Bennett (Kent).
