Sunderland boss Steve Bruce described his touchline clash with Rafael Benitez as "handbags" after Darren Bent's controversial goal delivered a fresh blow to Liverpool's title hopes.

The Black Cats won courtesy of Bent's eighth goal of the season, which flew past Reds goalkeeper Jose Reina after hitting a beach ball which had been thrown on to the pitch from the Liverpool fans.

Bruce, who saw Kenwyne Jones and Lee Cattermole both carried off injured, became embroiled in a furious touchline debate with Benitez when the Spaniard apparently complained about the length of time for which Jones was treated on the pitch.

However, he said: "It was handbags. It's all over, it's done.

"You do things in the heat of the moment which, when you look back at it, you think, `Maybe I shouldn't have done that', but there you go."