One of the most infamous goals in Premier League history was scored on this day in 2009. Liverpool travelled to in-form Sunderland for a game at the Stadium of Light looking to improve on their rocky form under Rafael Benitez following consecutive losses to Chelsea and Fiorentina in the UEFA Champions League . Their opponents were showing signs of a good run, having won four consecutive home matches and drawn with Manchester United at Old Trafford in their previous game.
Striker Darren Bent was in lethal goal-scoring form after his £16.5 million transfer from Tottenham during the summer, and he was determined to maintain his hot streak. BEACH BOY @DarrenBent scored @SAFCofficial 's winner against Liverpool in October 2009 - via a beach ball #LIVSUN pic.
twitter.com/je8OmEdZJ8 He duly did — just not in a way that anyone really expected. The Sporting News looks back at the remarkable "beach-ball goal" that gave Sunderland a win over Liverpool, why the referee made a huge mistake, and who took responsibility for "the nightmare" incident.
MORE: All the latest Liverpool news | Premier League schedule for 2024/25 | Latest Premier League top scorer rankings Darren Bent beach-ball goal: What happened in Sunderland vs. Liverpool? The goal in question came with only five minutes on the clock, Steve Bruce's Sunderland having started in positive fashion on the back of their decent run of form. After Andy Reid had gone close inside two minutes, he turned provider for Bent.
His cross fro.