Liverpool defeats Sunderland 2-0

Liverpool got a deserved and hard-working victory against Roy Keane's newly promoted Sunderland. Both sides had points to prove this lunchtime. Sunderland were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Wigan last Saturday, while Liverpool were left seething when a wrongly-awarded penalty cost them two points in the crunch game at Anfield against Chelsea. Having also been denied the opportunity to sign Gabriel Heinze in midweek, Liverpool might have felt things were against them - and were more determined to claim three points today. As for the Black Cats, they defended poorly at Wigan, and Roy Keane will have to attempt to address those shortcomings in training this week.

In the 2nd minute Voronin nearly capitalised on an error by Halford', and the Ukrainian striker looked lively. On that occasion Gordon made himself as big as possible and deflected the effort.
Ten minutes gone and Pennant did well on the right wing, and slipped a ball to Voronin, who was brought down outside the box by Etuhu. Alonso's disappointing free-kick crashed off the wall to safety.

Alonso flashed a shot wide from outside the area as Liverpool looked lively in the early stages. Hyppia was replaced in the 15th minute by Daniel Agger after the former had taken a blow from Daryl Murphy.
Sunderland's Richardson was also having trouble and was relpaced Anthony Stokes in another like-for-like substitution.

Almost out of nowhere Liverpool scored a superb goal. Alonso startsedit off which a great crossfield pass from left to Pennant on the right. Pennant nodded it back in to the middle where Voronin played it back into the path of Momo Sissoko, who thundered forward in the Steven Gerard role. Sissiko hit it hard and true into the net to Gordon's left. The first moment of genuine quality and it put Liverpool ahead. That g0al raised the game. It was Sissoko's first ever goal for Liverpool, who deserved to be in front on the balance of play.

In the opening stages of the 2nd half Torres raced onto a loose ball on the halfway line and looked set to make it two, outstripping Nosworthy for pace, but Gordon again justified his fee was another outstanding block. Terrific goalkeeping from Scotland's number one.

Sunderland tried to get back into the game and Miller played a superb crossfield pass to Halford on the right wing but he was fouled by Arbeloa . The freekick was tipped behind by Reina and causes a flurr in the Liverpool defence, but it was deal with, although Carragher got a knock in the ribs for his efforts.

In the 76th minute Riise came on for Carragher as Chopra wasted an opportunity to put Agger under pressure by fouling him. It was followed by an excellent shot by Stokes which flashed just wide of Reina's right-hand post as the ball came to him 20 yards from goal.

Torres did well down the right and cut a deft ball back for Voronin, who swiveled and shot first time. It looked lika a goal all the way but that man Gordon blocked it yet again with his feet

Liverpool wrapped things up with another well worked goal. Sissoko burstsforward and found Torres, who unselfishly played it to his left perfectlly for Voronin, who took a touch to make a yard of space, then fired it low into the far corner, although Gordon managed to get a hand to it. Goal number 2 for Liverpool and it was the 87th minute

The news from the Liverpool dressing room is that Sami Hyypia broke his nose but had it re-set at half-time . Jamie Carragher is feared to have broken a rib after getting a knee in his side at that corner. So possible lay-offs ahead for two key players.

The final whistle blowed on a deserved, hard working Liverpool victory. The Reds looked much more solid away from home than they have done in recent seasons. This win takes up to second, and they clearly mean business.