Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland Match Report

Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland Match Report

Liverpool finished last year with an impressive win and now they want to start the New Year with a win against Sunderland at Anfield. 2012 was far too inconsistent for Liverpool and the New Year brings new hope of better results in their quest to improve their League position. Their opponents, Sunderland, have improved in recent weeks and could provide a stiff test for Liverpool, who have struggled to make Anfield a fortress in recent times.

The Team

Brendan Rodgers was well enough to lead his side out Anfield after missing Sunday’s win over QPR through illness. He had to make one enforced change to the side that won in London at the weekend, with Jose Enrique nursing a hamstring injury, Glen Johnson was switched to left back and Andre Wisdom was recalled to the team to play at right back. Reina kept goal, with Skrtel and Agger making up the rest of the defence. Sterling and Downing started as the wide men in midfield, with Lucas, Gerrard and Henderson in the middle of midfield and Suarez as the lone striker.

The Match

Liverpool started the game brightly and looked to net an early goal, and Downing almost obliged with an effort from a free-kick, but Mignolet made a scampering save. Liverpool’s good start was rewarded in the 18^th minute when Suarez played a clever ball through to the onrushing Sterling, the youngster showed great composure to lob the advancing Mignolet to give Liverpool the lead.

Sunderland responded and should have scored, but James McLean was twice wasteful with just Reina to beat. Then Reina made a superb reflex save from a Kilgallon half-volley.

Sunderland were left to regret missing these chances when Liverpool scored a second when Suarez stayed on his feet on 26 minutes despite a foul from Carlos Cuellar and completed the task with a low finish which Mignolet handled but could not halt.

Downing almost made it three from a dangerous Henderson cross but went in at the half 2-0 to the good.

Sterling almost scored his second goal of the game after being put through by the impressive Suarez, but this time the youngster’s finish let him down.

On 52 minutes the game was over as a contest when Gerrard dispatched a 60-yard pass from his own half which Suarez controlled before slotting past Mignolet from close range. Gerrard now has eight league assists this season – one more than Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata at the top of that particular table.

Liverpool were rampant now and looking for more goals, but with a mixture of poor finishing, bad luck and some great goal keeping from Mignolet, Liverpool could not add to their tally, Joe Allen thought he had scored his first goal for Liverpool, but his effort was ruled offside.

A great start to the New Year for Liverpool with hope of more performances like this to come.

Summary

A great performance and win for Liverpool to kick off the New Year, but there were a couple of scares in the first half with Sunderland missing good chances. But the tempo and hunger Liverpool showed throughout the match was encouraging and another clean sheet is great news. Henderson and Downing are suddenly playing with confidence and looking like totally different players. Gerrard had another superb game and Luis Suarez is getting better with every game and scoring for fun at the moment. An impressive win for Liverpool on the back of the win at QPR and hopefully a more consistent run of wins will be the theme for the New Year.