THE BEACH BALL GOAL

Described by deflated Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez as “a special situation”, Darren Bent’s October 2009 goal against the Reds gave Sunderland a shock 1- 0 win at the Stadium of Light. What first seemed a routine strike then strayed off course after hitting a rogue beach ball, wrong- footing an irate Pepe Reina. “I didn’t put it there – their fans threw it,” shrugged Bent.