Sunderland scored twice in the final eight minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw against a Liverpool side without ill manager Jurgen Klopp.
Roberto Firmino's header (59) and an Adam Lallana tap-in (70) had the home side coasting to a first win in four games despite Klopp's absence with suspected appendicitis.
But after many home supporters carried out a threat to walk out on 77 minutes in protest at next season's ticket prices, Sunderland conjured a comeback few could have seen coming, Adam Johnson's free-kick (82) and Jermain Defoe's strike (89) salvaging a point.