Liverpool ended Sunderland's unbeaten run at the Stadium of Light as Virgil van Dijk's second-half header secured a 1-0 win to boost their Champions League qualification hopes.
With Chelsea and Manchester United having dropped points on Tuesday, the hard-fought victory puts Arne Slot's side only two points off the Champions League spots and ensures a positive response to Sunday's late loss to Manchester City.
Van Dijk's match-winning moment came just after the hour mark, when his header from Mohamed Salah's corner proved too powerful for Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra, who could only direct it into the roof of the net on the goal line.
The header was one of 23 shots on goal by Liverpool. Florian Wirtz struck the post with their best opportunity of the first half, while Hugo Ekitike and Salah missed chances to extend their lead late on.
Sunderland went into the game as the only remaining unbeaten team at home in the Premier League this season having not lost in 12 fixtures, but could only create half-chances for Nordi Mukiele, Trai Hume and debutant Nilson Angulo.
Liverpool's wastefulness kept the contest alive into the closing stages, but they held firm in the face of Sunderland pressure to ensure no repeat of their late collapse on Sunday.
The well-deserved victory, which featured some welcome defensive resilience and another eye-catching display from Wirtz, is only their second in their last eight Premier League games and puts them right back in the hunt for a top-five finish.
The only negative for Slot was an injury to makeshift right-back Wataru Endo, who had to be stretchered off and replaced by Joe Gomez in the second half. "His injury doesn't look good," said Slot. "I expect him to be out unfortunately for quite a long time."
For Sunderland, a first league defeat of the season leaves them 11th.
This was exactly what Liverpool needed after the latest in a series of stoppage-time capitulations. Sunday's loss to Manchester City stung but on this evidence they are more than capable of recovering to clinch a Champions League finish.
There were lots of positives for Slot, who talked up their efforts on set-pieces at both ends of the pitch. It is an area in which they have struggled this season but they held firm when required defensively and scored their winner from one of several dangerous corners.
They created plenty from open play too. The one-goal margin of victory was flattering to the hosts. But most satisfying was the doggedness of their defensive performance. At a ground where so many sides have wilted this season, Liverpool looked strong.
They now have a far kinder run of fixtures to come.
After Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton, they face three teams in the bottom four places of the Premier League table in Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Wolves. It is a chance to overhaul the sides above them in the top-five race.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot told TNT Sports: "In almost all the things we did, we did them really well.
"We had to defend a lot of long balls and set-pieces and we did that really well.
"If you generate so many chances you should score more than one goal. But this was enough today as we defended very well in all phases of the game.
"If you play for or manage Liverpool, every game is a must-win.
"Last season when we were top of the league we needed to win and now we're in this position we feel the same.
"That is the pressure you should embrace at Liverpool, otherwise you're in the wrong place."
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris to TNT Sports: "The mindset of the team was good.
"We struggled a bit during the fist half to manage the opposition. We lacked a bit of energy, to be more composed on the ball, because we defended a lot.
"In the second half it was a bit better, but fine margins decide the games. We conceded a goal on a set-piece. They are good at that.
"We had a couple of chances but it wasn't enough to come back into the game.
"Every game at home is a tough challenge. This was one more. This place has to stay a strong place. With our crowd and our confidence, we'll keep going like that."
