Sunderland took a deserved lead in the 67th minute when Chemsdine Talbi's 25-yard effort deflected off Virgil van Dijk and beat Alisson. The visitors had already gone close earlier, with Alisson tipping Trai Hume's first-half strike onto the crossbar before Omar Alderete headed against the post after the break.
Liverpool struggled to create chances and saw Alex Mac Allister hit the woodwork in the first half. Head coach Arne Slot once again started Mohamed Salah on the bench following Sunday's win at West Ham United, but the forward was introduced at half-time in an attempt to lift a flat performance.
The equaliser arrived nine minutes from time when Florian Wirtz's shot was deflected into his own net by Nordi Mukiele, leaving Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs with no chance.
Sunderland nearly won the match in stoppage time when Wilson Isidor broke through on goal, but Federico Chiesa recovered to clear his effort off the line.
The draw ends Liverpool's hopes of building momentum after their recent victory at West Ham, while Sunderland extended their strong run of form with another impressive display.
After the match, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot admitted his side's defensive lapses proved costly once again.
"Far too many times this season we don't concede a lot of chances but the ones that we do go in," Slot told the BBC. "We weren't lucky enough to get the win over the line, but in recent weeks we would have lost this game so that is a positive."
Slot also bemoaned his side's lack of cutting edge at the other end of the pitch.
"We are already 14 games in now and we haven't been able to score enough from open play or from set pieces," he said.
"Bit similar as in the weekend (against West Ham), a game where we didn't concede a lot and we didn't create a lot."
Enzo Maresca admitted that Cole Palmer's long-awaited return was "the only good news" on a punishing Wednesday night for Chelsea, who were beaten 3-1 by a sharp Leeds United side at Elland Road.
When Thomas Frank returns to face Brentford, now as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, the stakes could not be higher.
Mikel Arteta admitted he felt "worried" after Arsenal extended their Premier League lead but collected yet more injury problems in a controlled 2-0 win over Brentford at the Emirates.
Arne Slot has dismissed the idea of using Dominik Szoboszlai as a long-term solution on the right wing, even though the midfielder performed impressively in that role.
