Fernando Torres continued on from where he left off last season as the Spaniard grabbed the game’s only goal in Saturday’s Premiership fixture versus Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. The forward found the net from outside the area with a right-footed shot which left Gordon in the home goal no chance.

Following Liverpool’s goalless draw with Standard Liege in the midweek Champions League qualifier, Rafa Benitez decided to make one change to the back four, bringing in Sami Hyypia for Daniel Agger. Red captain Steven Gerrard also returned to the starting line-up in midfield in place of Xabi Alonso, and Fernando Torres was partnered by Robbie Keane in the Merseysiders’ attack.

The Anfield club were sporting their new away kit for the first Premier League clash of the 2008/09 campaign. The kit is very similar to the one Liverpool wore back in 1990, the last year the Reds won the league title.

Sunderland started better in front of a sell-out crowd at the Stadium of Light, and although chances were at a premium, the home side produced the game’s first effort on target. Daryl Murphy found space between the Liverpool centre-backs, but the midfielder could only head straight at Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal after a dangerous cross from El-Hadji Diouf.

After an indifferent start from the Merseysiders, some good pressure from Liverpool forced three back-to-back corners. Sunderland however defended well to keep the visitors at bay.

Rafa Benitez’ side continued to push forward and they could well have had a penalty when Benayoun collided with Pascal Chimbonda in the Sunderland area. The Israeli international had beaten the defender with his first touch, before the fullback ran into the Liverpool midfielder. The referee however decided instead to give an earlier foul on Gerrard just outside the box. The resulting free-kick came to nothing as Liverpool captain’s shot cannoned off the wall.

Both Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane were having to drop deep looking for the ball as Liverpool failed to find their stride in attack. One of the striker’s forays into his own half almost led to the game’s opener. The Anfield number ‘9’ picked up the ball deep before racing forward and touching the ball past Tainio on the edge of the Sunderland area. Torres however could not maintain his balance in the box as the ball went out of play.

Liverpool started the second period on the attack as Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon had to be alert to save Yossi Benayoun’s low shot. The rebound fell to Robbie Keane, but the forward’s effort was turned behind by Chimbonda’s diving tackle. Steven Gerrard then had a shot from the edge of the area blocked by Danny Collins with Gordon beaten.

Torres was unlucky not break the deadlock following a good Craig Gordon save from a Dirk Kuyt shot. The striker reacted quickest to the loose ball but the Spaniard’s goal-bound effort struck went behind after striking Robbie Keane.

The Liverpool fans though did not have to wait for long for the opener as moments later Torres crashed home a right-footed drive into the bottom corner. The Spaniard found some space on the edge of the box before unleashing a fierce shot past Gordon.


- Match Stats: Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

Sunderland: Gordon, Chimbonda, Nosworthy, Collins, Bardsley, Malbranque (Edwards, 72), Tainio (Whitehead, 57 ), Reid, Richardson, Diouf (Chopra, 81), Murphy.

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Dossena, Kuyt, Gerrard, Plessis (Alonso, 46) Benayoun (Aurelio, 81), Keane (Nabil El Zhar, 76), Torres.

Booked: Arbeloa, Nabil El Zhar

Goals: Torres, 83.


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