This match would prove to be difficult for Liverpool, for often have the Reds struggled to beat defensive teams that worked hard, being unable to break down stubborn defenses to score goals. This would prove to be a match that would show much Rafa Benitez has improved the Liverpool team this season, as it would be a stern test and Liverpool would have to fight hard.
Roy Keane got his newly promoted side fired up and ready to battle it out at the Stadium of Light, and they emerged with a lot of energy, closing Liverpool down whenever the Reds had the ball, running everywhere and fighting for every bit of possession they could get. Liverpool had a poor first half, being unable to break down the tough defense of Sunderland and were finally gifted a goal in the later part of the first half when Mohamed Sissoko scored from what appeared to be his first shot on target in two years at Liverpool. He fired a low shot through the legs of a Sunderland defender, and the goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who played exceptionally well that day, was unable to save it.
In the second half, Liverpool gave a slightly more convincing performance, and did not seem like they would be conceding a goal. However, the important second goal did not arrive until the later stages in the game. Against tougher sides such as Blackburn, Newcastle and Middlesbrough, Liverpool will need to kill the game off earlier if they want to win away from home. Eventually, they got the goal they wanted in the 87th minute, after good play resulted in Torres assisting his strike partner in firing a low shot past Gordon, thus wrapping up a 2-0 victory for Liverpool.
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