Fernando Torres hit goal number 18 of the year as Liverpool bounced back from defeat away to West Ham with all three points in Saturday’s Premier League clash at home to Sunderland.

Following a dull opening 45 minutes, Liverpool stepped up a gear in the second half scoring three goals without reply. Crouch broke the deadlock before Torres made it 2-0 in the 69th minute. Gerrard made it three from the spot following a foul on Pennant to complete the scoring.

Rafael Benitez made five changes to the side beaten in the midweek fixture at Upton Park. Martin Skrtel, Jermaine Pennant, Mascherano, Leiva and Peter Crouch all returned to the team. The tall England striker partnered Fernando Torres up front for the Reds.

Javier Mascherano was the first to try his luck for Liverpool, but his long range strike flew narrowly over the Sunderland crossbar. Gerrard was next try from distance, but his two shots failed to find the target as the Black Cats defended in numbers.

Fernando Torres then had a snap-shot saved by Craig Gordon in the Sunderland goal as the Reds slowly started to find a path through the away defence.

Torres was again the danger-man as his header from Jermaine Pennant’s cross was comfortably saved by Gordon. The Wearsiders were offering nothing in attack as Liverpool dominated but struggled to find an opener.

Liverpool came out in the second half intent on breaking the deadlock, and finally got what they deserved twelve minutes after the restart. A cross from the right-hand side by Jamie Carragher was headed past Gordon by Peter Crouch to make it 1-0.

The Spanish international forward almost scored a cracker moments later, but his beautiful control and left- footed volley was well-saved by Gordon. The Sunderland shot-stopper was by far the Wearsider’s best player on the day.

Torres deservedly got on the scoresheet with his strike number 18 of the season in the 69th minute. The striker ran onto a flick-on from Crouch before holding off two Sunderland defenders and slotting past the Sunderland keeper to double Liverpool’s lead.

Sunderland came to life following the Spaniard’s goal, but Michael Chopra missed the target from close range with Pepe Reina beaten, in what was the away side’s only clear-cut chance of the game.

There was still time for one more goal from Liverpool as the referee pointed to the spot after Pennant was brought down in the box. The keeper guessed right, but the power behind Gerrard’s penalty was enough to see the ball find its way into the back of the net.


Match Stats: Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Aurelio (Finnan 45), Pennant, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas (Benayoun 61), Crouch (Kuyt 83), Torres.

Bookings: Finnan

Goals: Crouch 57, Torres 69, Gerrard (pen) 89.

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Chopra (Waghorn 83), Whitehead, Miller, Richardson (Prica 7), Murphy, Jones.

Bookings: Miller, Gordon


Photo: www.liverpoolfc.tv