FT: LIVERPOOL 3-0 SUNDERLAND

Date: Wednesday 2 January 2013
Kick Off: 19:45
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Broadcast: n/a


LINKS

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=180507


LIVE ARTICLE

http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewLiveArticle/178345


Liverpool comfortably saw off the threat of Sunderland on Wednesday night at Anfield.

Sunderland made an encouraging start to the game as Liverpool struggled to make their mark on the game early on. But soon the Reds began to settle and the fans only had to wait 19 minutes for the first goal.

Steven Gerrard headed the ball on towards Luis Suarez, and he controlled it before hitting it up towards Raheem Sterling, who took it forward before lifting it over Simon Mignolet and into the net.

Seven minutes later, Suarez turned from creator into scorer as Gerrard passed it to him on the right and he went on a run forwards, being allowed to carry on after Carlos Cuellar had fouled him, and he entered the box before smashing it into the bottom left corner.

Just seven minutes into the second half, Suarez scored again to get his 18th goal of the season, eclipsing his total tally of last season just over halfway through this one. Gerrard was again the provider, hitting a superb ball from his own half up to Suarez, who chested it to the side and took a touch past Mignolet before slotting it in.

Up until this goal was scored, Sunderland still had a chance as they had shown some threat themselves, but the third Liverpool goal killed the game off. Liverpool had the ball in the net twice more, but they were correctly ruled offside by the linesmen.

On the first occasion, Glen Johnson had strayed just offside when he received the ball before slotting it in. 10 minutes later, Joe Allen had his first Liverpool goal chalked off as Stewart Downing had edged ahead of the last defender before he received the ball to pull back to Allen.

The result moves Liverpool up to eighth place in the league, and they are seven points behind fourth-placed Chelsea having played a game more.


LIVE SCOREBOARD

LIVERPOOL - 3
Sterling 19'
Suarez 26', 52'

SUNDERLAND - 0


LEAGUE POSITIONS AS IT STANDS

8. Liverpool - Pld 21, W 8, D 7, L 6, F 34, A 26, GD 8, Pts 31.
14. Sunderland - Pld 21, W 5, D 7, L 9, F 21, A 28, GD -8, Pts 22.


TEAMS

Liverpool
25 Reina
47 Wisdom
37 Skrtel (Carragher 74')
5 Agger
2 Johnson
8 Gerrard
21 Lucas
14 Henderson (Suso 67')
19 Downing
7 Suarez
31 Sterling (Allen 57')

Subs: 1 Jones, 4 Sahin, 23 Carragher, 24 Allen, 30 Suso, 33 Shelvey, 49 Robinson.

Sunderland
22 Mignolet
8 Gardner
24 Cuellar
12 Kilgallon
3 Rose (Vaughan 73')
21 Johnson
7 Larsson (McFadden 62')
14 Colback
23 McClean
28 Sessegnon (Campbell 46')
26 Fletcher

Subs: 20 Westwood, 2 Bardsley, 9 Campbell, 10 Wickham,
11 McFadden, 15 Vaughan, 19 Bramble.


KEY UPDATES

19: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 1-0 SUNDERLAND
Steven Gerrard heads a ball on to Luis Suarez, and he chests it before hitting it forward for Raheem Sterling (2), and he races forward with it before lifting it over the onrushing Simon Mignolet into the net.

26: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 2-0 SUNDERLAND
Steven Gerrard passes it forward to Luis Suarez (17) on the right hand side of the pitch, and he takes it forward towards Carlos Cuellar, who fouls him but the referee allows play to go on, and he races into the penalty area on the right and then drills it beyond Simon Mignolet into the far corner.

46: SUNDERLAND SUB
Stephane Sessegnon is replaced by Fraizer Campbell at half time.

52: GOAL - LIVERPOOL 3-0 SUNDERLAND
Steven Gerrard hits a great ball from his own half up towards Luis Suarez (18) in the penalty area, and he chests it to the right before taking a touch past Simon Mignolet and slotting it in.

57: LIVERPOOL SUB
Raheem Sterling is replaced by Joe Allen.

60: SUNDERLAND BOOKING
James McClean receives a yellow card (3) for a foul on Luis Suarez.

62: SUNDERLAND SUB
Sebastian Larsson is replaced by James McFadden.

67: LIVERPOOL SUB
Jordan Henderson is replaced by Suso.

73: SUNDERLAND SUB
Danny Rose is replaced by David Vaughan.

74: LIVERPOOL SUB
Martin Skrtel is replaced by Jamie Carragher due to injury.


LAST MATCHES

Liverpool
Sunday 30 December 2012
Barclays Premier League
QPR 0-3 Liverpool

Sunderland
Saturday 29 December 2012
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham

Head to head
Saturday 15 September 2012
Barclays Premier League
Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool


TOP SCORERS

Liverpool
Luis Suarez - 18
Steven Gerrard - 5
Jonjo Shelvey - 5

Sunderland
Steven Fletcher - 8
James McClean - 4
Craig Gardner - 3