The England pair grabbed a goal apiece to send the Reds second in the Premier League – one point behind Chelsea.
And while 24-year-old Sturridge celebrated breaking the 20-goal barrier for the first time in the Premier League, Gerrard continued to roll back the years with a fine free-kick, taking his goal tally to 11 for the season – his most productive campaign since 2009 and the joint-second-best of his career.
Sturridge shrugged off the personal accolades – “It's a great feeling but it's more important for the team" – but Gerrard, 33. was thrilled to have taken his chance from a dead-ball after being given permission by Luis Suarez.
The England and Liverpool captain said: "I don't usually get a go [at free-kicks]. Luis Suarez has been magnificent on set-pieces but sometimes you need people to step in and I got it right.
"He let me take one! He wouldn't let me take one at Cardiff! But it doesn't matter who gets the goals. We've won nothing yet."
Steven Gerrard picks out the top corner against Sunderland
Brendan Rodgers maintained faith in his England contingent, giving Glen Johnson and Under-21s player Jon Flanagan 90 minutes at full-back and Jordan Henderson a full match in midfield. Raheem Sterling came on as a substitute.
Sometime England winger Adam Johnson came on as a substitute for Sunderland as they chased the game, and England Under-21 striker played 61 minutes on his return from loan at Leeds United.
Elsewhere West Ham United secured a crucial three points at home to Hull City, with Mark Noble’s penalty and a James Chester own-goal trumping Nikica Jelavic’s close-range strike in a 2-1 victory.
England striker Andy Carroll played a full 90 minutes for the Hammers.
