Sunderland 0 - 2 Liverpool

Liverpool rarely had to slip out of first gear as they out-classed a creatively bereft Sunderland.

One might easily have expected Sunderland’s doggedness to be the main feature of this match and for the opening quarter it certainly looked that way. They stifled Liverpool in midfield forcing them in to an ineffective long-ball game.

Although Liverpool’s first chance came after just 20 seconds, Voronin latching on to a nervous-looking back pass only to be quickly closed down by Gordon who blocked the Ukranian’s shot.

It took 24 minutes to pass before another chance on goal. Stokes getting himself on the end of a Chopra though-ball but scuffing his shot at Reina. This typified Sunderland going forward as the opportunity came from an interception high up the field rather than any genuinely incisive build-up play.

Liverpool had been edging their way into the game, gradually finding more room when on 37mins Voronin teed up Sissoko for a 25-yard rocket into the bottom left-hand corner or Gordon’s goal. Sunderland failed to find a Plan:B for the remainder of the first half. Liverpool dominated possession seeing Torres coming close with a diving header just before the break.

Sunderland started the second half bright but it took just 5minutes for them to be split open. Torres used his pace to ghost past 2 Sunderland defenders only to shoot straight at Gordon.

A drained Dwight Yorke summed up his side as he was withdrawn on the hour having spent the previous 15 minutes conceding possession and generally looking out of place at this level.

Liverpool looked comfortable as Sunderland failed to threaten relying on set-pieces to give their fans any hope of an equaliser. Stokes ambitious long-range effort the closest they came.

The Merseysider’s never really pressed for a second, rarely supporting their two hard-working forwards but on 86mins Voronin got a reward for his efforts. He turned Nosworthy in the box to flash a shot past Gordon to make it two nil.

Neither team really impressed over the 90mins with Liverpool playing within themselves against a poor Sunderland team.

Man of the Match: Andriy Voronin – worked tirelessly, without support for long periods, and was Liverpool’s main goal threat.