Sunderland 0-2 Liverpool

FA Premiership
Saturday 25th August 2007 (12:45pm) @ The Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Momo Sissoko scored Liverpool's 7000th league goal (and his first for the reds) before Andriy Voronin made sure the reds carried on with their 100% record away from Anfield this season. However, Liverpool will be counting the cost of these three points with both Hyypia and Carragher looking at lengthy spells on the sidelines.

It was a scrappy game at The Stadium of Light and Sunderland's tactic was to not allow the reds any time on the ball. Unfortunately for us, Liverpool had forgotten the mystical art of passing, and with Gerrard rested it looked ominously like it was going to be one of those days.

Sami Hyypia was taken off after 20 minutes with blood streaming from his nose after a collision with Kieran Richardson who also left the field.

Eventually the reds quality began to shine through, in a similar fashion to the Villa game two weeks ago. A promising move saw Liverpool towards the right hand side of the penalty box. As the ball came out to Voronin on the edge of the area - he knocked the ball backwards towards Momo Sissoko who fired in a low shot from 25 yards out. Steven Gerrard would have been proud. It was Momo's first goal for Liverpool - it's only taken him 75 games!

Torres could have added the second before half-time but it was more excellent keeping from Craig Gordon - the £9 million Sunderland keeper who was having a great game.

In the second half, Sunderland could no longer opt for the same strategy and had to go looking for a goal. Liverpool started pulling the Black Cats apart as they gained a lot more space further up field. Jamie Carragher had to go off with a suspected fractured rib and more news on this is expected after the player has attended hospital.

Voronin grabbed a late goal to ease the tension for the travelling Liverpool fans who put in an excellent performance in the North East.

Teams

Liverpool: Reina, Finnan, Carragher (Riise 75), Hyypia (Agger 15), Arbeloa, Pennant, Alonso, Sissoko, Babel (Kuyt 88), Torres, Voronin.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Mascherano. Booked: Arbeloa.

Goals: Sissoko 37, Voronin 87.

Sunderland: Gordon, Halford, McShane, Nosworthy, Wallace, Miller, Etuhu, Yorke (Leadbitter 61), Richardson (Stokes 20), Chopra, Murphy (Connolly 78).
Subs Not Used: Ward, Anderson.

Booked: Etuhu.

Att: 45,645.

Ref: Mark Halsey (Lancashire).

Post Match Reaction

Rafael Benitez:

"It was really important for us. The team showed character.

"We had a lot of chances and killed the game at the end - it could have been before that but it was good for the supporters and the club.

"It is important to see different players doing the job. We have a stronger squad now and we know we have the confidence in the players."

Sunderland boss Roy Keane:

"Liverpool have a good chance to win the league - we saw that with their strength in depth.

"I was delighted with our effort, we showed some quality but it was not our day.

"It's tough when you play against teams like Liverpool and we have to learn quickly in these games."