Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 in an English Premier League encounter
Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 in an English Premier League encounter at the Stadium of Light on Sunday afternoon. Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez scored for the visitors, who continue to push for a UEFA Champions League spot for next season.
Steve Bruce made only one change from the team that played a goalless draw against Arsenal last week. Danny Welbeck replaced Steed Malbranque in the midfield for the Black Cats.
On the other hand, Kenny Dalglish made several changes to his team that played a stalemate against Sporting Braga in their last game. Suarez and Andy Carroll started upfront in a 4-4-2 formation.
The Reds dominated the game immediately after the kick off and could have scored in the opening six minutes. Carroll rose highest from a corner from Raul Meireles and headed into Kuyt’s path, who swooped a shot towards goal but Simon Mignolet made a fantastic
save from his legs to deny the visitors.
Moments after that huge let off, the hosts had a good chance to take the lead. Welbeck flashed across the goal and played it in the middle but Keiran Richardson could not manage to provide a touch to the ball.
Sunderland were forced to make a double change after Richardson and Muntari picked up injuries and had to be replaced by Malbranque and Lee Cattermole respectively.
Just after the hour mark, Liverpool were awarded a penalty kick when John Mensah tripped down Jay Spearing outside the box but the referee thought it was inside the penalty area and he pointed to the spot. Kuyt stood up and calmly slotted his shot past Mignolet
to make it 1-0 for the Reds.
Minutes later, the visitors came extremely close of doubling their lead; Suarez found a lofted ball and he volleyed it for the bottom corner but Mignolet made a brilliant low save to deny the Reds.
Moments after the resumption of second half, Meireles played a lovely delivery in the box and unmarked Carroll headed towards the net but Cattermole managed to stick the boot out to clear the danger.
The visitors continued to dominate the game with a free flowing football but Mignolet was up to the challenge and made some fantastic saves to keep the hosts alive.
In the 74th minute, Asamoah Gyan fell inside the box under Daniel Agger’s challenge but the referee waived play on and booked Gyan for diving.
Liverpool doubled their advantage in the 77th minute; Suarez made a surging run from the right flank and smashed a shot from an acute angle, which found the back of the net to make it 2-0 for the visitors. The Black Cats were undone by Suarez’s
guile and pace as they looked out of sorts in the second half.
Minutes before the full time whistle, Mensah’s sending off added salt to the Sunderland’s wounds as they went down to ten men. The defender pulled Suarez down as a last man and the referee had no other option but to show him a straight red card.
The Reds completed a well deserved victory as Dalglish will be happy to see record signings Carroll and Suarez playing brilliantly in their first start together for the club.
Liverpool will play their next game against West Bromwich Albion on 2nd April, while Sunderland will play Manchester City on 3rd April.