Liverpool 2 Sunderland 1 - Vital nervy win vs Black Cats

Blog by dedlfc

With the home fans turning up in their droves to Anfield for our first home game since Swansea over a month ago, on the surface, Sunderland, who had not won at Anfield since October 1983, seemed a very straightforward home win. 

And yet they having taken more points from teams in the top half of the table than the bottom half and earned more points away than at home, we could not afford to take this game lightly.

We took the attack to Sunderland from the opening kick-off, but the 3-5-2 formation that the Black Cats employed against the Reds did its job in the opening half an hour.

Forced into multiple shots from distance we looked confident in possession, without penetration, as Sunderland fought hard to try and avoid allowing us an early goal that typically would have sent us on our way to a high explosive offensive frenzy.

However, being forced to wait till the 39th minute for our captain marvel Steven Gerrard to net the opener from a stunning free kick after a rehearsed move finally gave the home crowd and the LFC fans watching from the many pubs and homes around the country a goal to cheer.

Gerrard and Suarez horse around after the captain's opener

We were in the driver's seat as we headed into the second half and picked up right where we left off when we began our attack of the Kop end at the start of the second-half.

Daniel Sturridge scored another impressive goal for his 20th of the campaign to see the Reds become only the third team in Premier League history to have two players score 20 or more goals in a season and first time in 50 years that two Liverpool players had managed the feat.

Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho both pressed to get on the score sheet, but despite both of them having great nights in terms of work rate and creativity, their final touches seemed to be off all night with Suarez in particular being overly profligate.

With a two goal mountain to climb, Sunderland manager Gus Poyet knew he had to change the system and subbed in Adam Johnson, who surprisingly did not start and Swansea loan signing Ki Sung-Yueng.

Almost immediately having moved to a flat back four the Black Cats started to impose themselves on the game and both Johnson and Ki are to thank for the rousing lift they instilled into the relegation threatened side's form.

Only a few minutes after his entrance, the highly impressive Ki was almost through on goal, a warner which we failed to learn from and as the game progressed into the last 15 minutes Sunderland were starting to make themselves appear a threat and breakthrough they finally did.

Daniel Sturridge celebrates his 20th League goal of the season

Lee Cattermole blasted a shot onto the bar in clear defiance of the belief that Liverpool would be easy winners and shortly after Sunderland heightened nerves all around Anfield.

A swinging corner from the right hand side from Adam Johnson, was woefully defended by Skrtel and Agger which caught our young Liverpool stand-in left back Jon Flanagan ball watching and allowed Ki to have a free header at the far post to bring the visitors back into a game we should have been home and hosed in.

The next five minutes saw Sunderland throwing everything they had against the home side and into the last ten minutes they earned a free kick on the edge of the box thanks to a clumsy tackle by Glen Johnson. 

Again a free header was on the table, but ex-Man United stalwart John O'Shea failed to connect cleanly and Sunderland's chances of potentially stealing a late point were dashed.

Suarez continued to battle and fight for a chance to score his goal on the night since both Gerrard and Sturridge had theirs, but while his dazzling footwork was on continued display he failed to work his usual magic in front of goal in his well-publicised knitted boots.

We resorted to holding the ball near the corner flag tactic, for the last three minutes of stoppage time and managed to close the night off with a tough result.  It was a result none the less as we moved to within a point of Chelsea on 68 points after 31 matches played.

We now look to Tottenham coming to Anfield at the weekend and we will need to have a more impressive performance on Sunday if we are to claim an eighth win in eight games.

Man of the match - Steven Gerrard - Our captain again led by example and his personal drive to finally bring the title home is amazing at the moment and it was also very impressive that the discipline of our captain in this game meant that he went the whole game without a yellow card.

Positives: The result was only thing that mattered to maintain the pressure and momentum after six wins in a row - making it seven was seventh heaven!!!

Coutinho's silky skills shone at parts throughout the second half but he continues to not get any goals to support his excellent artistry.

Despite conceding a goal with fifteen minutes left we showed the determination to fight to stay in the title race by hanging on for the victory.

Negatives: Conceding, yet another sloppy goal meant we had to endure a nervy last fifteen minutes of the game when we should have made an additional move by bringing on a further midfielder to control the rest of the game.

Suarez again showing his wasteful side by not playing in other team members who are in a better position - it didn't cost us anything but we need to work even more as a team and not just for individual personal gain.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Flanagan, Gerrard, Henderson, Allen, Coutinho, Sturridge (Sterling 77), Suarez.

Subs not used: Brad Jones, Aspas, Moses, Sakho, Cissokho, Lucas.

Goals: Gerrard 39, Sturridge 48.

Sunderland: Mannone, Brown, O'Shea, Vergini, Bardsley, Cattermole, Bridcutt, Dossena (Colback 83), Giaccherini (Johnson 61), Altidore, Wickham (Ki 61,).

Subs not used: Larsson, Roberge, Scocco, Ustari.

Goals: Ki 76

Booked: Vergini, Bardsley.

Attendance: 44, 524.

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)