Liverpool – Sunderland

1. Hello and welcome to the live commentary for Liverpool vs Sunderland at Anfield.

2. Liverpool are starting with Ryan Babel alongside Fernando Torres in attack and Steven Gerrard in a more central midfield role.

3. That means no place in the starting XI for Lucas Leiva, but the line-up is otherwise the same as the team beaten 2-1 against Manchester United.

4. Sunderland, meanwhile, have Phil Bardsley and Lorik Cana coming in for Alan Hutton and John Mensah.

5. Kenwyne Jones, the subject of Liverpool interest in January, was named on the bench having missed the last two matches with a hip injury.

6. Phil Dowd is the referee this afternoon.

7. Liverpool currently trail fourth-placed Spurs by seven points and, having both played 31 games, they cannot afford another slip-up against Sunderland.

8. Sunderland will also have an incentive to get the three points as their safety is not yet guaranteed. They are currently eight points ahead of 18th-placed Hull.

9. The players are now out on the field.

10. 1'

    Liverpool get the match underway.

11. 1'

    Liverpool win an early free kick out on the right from Malbranque. Gerrard will put this in.

12. 1'

    Agger forces a save with a fine strike at the far post, with Gordon having to palm the ball clear.

13. 3'

    GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!

14. 3'

    Fernando Torres scores from an incredible angle from out wide on the left after picking up a long ball forwards from Pepe Reina. Unbelievable strike.

15. 5'

    Richardson bursts down the left and Carragher takes no chances with the cross, clearing for a throw-in despite there being little danger. Safety first but possibly a sign of nerves.

16. 8'

    Johnson does brilliantly for Liverpool down the right, skipping past his defender before finding Babel at the far post, but he can't quite leap high enough to cause significant problems with the header.

17. 9'

    Maxi wins a corner for Liverpool.

18. 10'

    Mascherano unleashes a shot from the corner but Richardson gets his head in the way. The ball comes back for Babel to fire a tame shot at Gordon.

19. 11'

    Maxi goes down under a Richardson tackle and looks to be in a little pain, but nothing to worry about.

20. 13'

    Sunderland have rarely been able to get forwards so far here and Liverpool are looking by far the more likely.

21. 13'

    Turner concedes a corner.

22. 14'

    Mascherano fires wide of the near post from the edge of the area following the short corner.

23. 14'

    Cana plays a ball over the top for Campbell, but the striker is just offside.

24. 16'

    Kuyt looks to poke a ball through into the box, but Turner does well to deal with the danger as Gerrard threatens to burst in.

25. 16'

    Torres fires just wide! More great football from Liverpool with some great one-touch play before Gerrard played back for Torres to curl just wide of the post.

26. 17'

    Maxi goes down holding his face as Malbranque puts his hand on his neck. Not what you like to see.

27. 18'

    Gerrard bursts into the area and fires a shot just across the face of goal. It takes a nick off Turner for a corner.

28. 19'

    Agger has a good chance from the corner, given just enough time to control and get a shot away, but he can't direct it on target.

29. 20'

    Liverpool win another corner as Johnson's cross hits Cana.

30. 20'

    The ball is too high for Agger to get a clean shot away and Sunderland eventually win a goal kick.

31. 22'

    Maxi concedes a free-kick about 35 yards out.

32. 22'

    Richardson plays it short and Liverpool are able to get it away as the square cross comes in from the left.

33. 23'

    Mascherano looks for Johnson out on the right flank after more great passing movement from Liverpool.

34. 25'

    Liverpool win another corner through Maxi.

35. 25'

    Superb save from Gordon! Maxi heads towards goal from the near post and Gordon tips over superbly.

36. 25'

    The second corner causes no problems and Sunderland break clear.

37. 26'

    The move breaks down as Campbell receives possession in the box but runs out of options.

38. 27'

    Agger plays a long ball through to Torres in the box. It nearly comes off but just has too much pace on it and goes out for a goal kick.

39. 29'

    Henderson tries a spectulative shot on the bounce but it's never threatening the Liverpool goal.

40. 30'

    Johnson bursts past Malbranque but Richardson is there to put the ball out of play for a Liverpool throw.

41. 31'

    Liverpool win a free-kick on the right flank and Gerrard puts in an excellent cross, but Agger just can't get enough on it to divert it on target. Disappointing effort.

42. 32'

    Henderson concedes a corner.

43. 32'

    GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!

44. 32'

    Glen Johnson fires in from outside the area as the ball takes a small deflection off Michael Turner, leaving Craig Gordon stranded. A fine effort nonetheless from the Liverpool right back.

45. 34'

    Liverpool win another free-kick out on the left. Gerrard sends another dangerous ball across the face of goal but no one makes contact. Goal kick.

46. 37'

    Maxi tries to curl a ball into Kuyt's path with the outside of his boot, but it doesn't quite come off.

47. 38'

    Torres feeds Kuyt in the area, but the Dutchman's lay-off is cleared by Malbranque.

48. 39'

    Kuyt sees an effort blocked, the ball comes back into the area, Torres hits the post and, from the rebound, fires wide! Liverpool should be out of sight here.

49. 42'

    Gerrard is given offside at the end of another period of Liverpool pressure.

50. 43'

    Agger strides forward into the Sunderland half, finds Torres on the left, receives the ball back but is unable to take advantage.

51. 46'

    One minute of added time.

52. 46'

    Torres just fails to collect the ball on the left as Liverpool look to add another before the break. Unusually sloppy from Torres.

53. 46'

    It's half-time and Liverpool have been superb in the first half. They lead 2-0 and will feel they could be 4-0 or 5-0 up. Join us in the second to see if Sunderland can provide a response.

54. 46'

    The Liverpool players are back out on the pitch and Sunderland are now belatedly joining them.

55. 46'

    Sunderland have made a change with Paulo Da Silva coming on for Lee Cattermole.

56. 46'

    Sunderland get the second half underway.

57. 46'

    Cattermole's substitution was tactical rather than due to injury.

58. 47'

    Johnson puts the ball in from the right and Sunderland struggle to deal with it, but it just won't quite drop for any of Liverpool's attacking players.

59. 48'

    Turner makes a strong clearance as Liverpool look to spark another break.

60. 49'

    Johnson loses possession as he tries to beat Bent deep in his own half, but Liverpool recover.

61. 50'

    Gerrard leads a swift Liverpool break and Babel tries a shot at the end of it, but he can't keep his shot down.

62. 51'

    Sunderland win a free-kick and Richardson lobs it into the area. It's headed behind for a Sunderland corner.

63. 51'

    Richardson's corner evades everyone, eventually arriving at Bent out on the left, but nothing comes of it.

64. 52'

    Sunderland make another change, with Malbranque coming off for fit-again Kenwyne Jones.

65. 52'

    Torres passes up a gilt-edged chance! Johnson does brilliantly to find Torres just in front of goal, but Da Silva makes a superb block.

66. 53'

    Liverpool win a free-kick in a good position in the aftermath. Gerrard takes it but fires it into the wall.

67. 54'

    Henderson gets a shot away after some good hold-up play from Jones. He doesn't quite get the power needed under pressure, though, and Reina makes a fairly simple save.

68. 56'

    Campbell tries to latch onto a long ball down the right flank. It finds him in the area and he leaps to collect it, but the ball flies off for Reina to claim.

69. 57'

    Aggers moves forwards again and finds Maxi on the right-hand corner of the box. His volley is blocked.

70. 58'

    Bardsley has put in a couple of strong challenges on Babel in the last few minutes and looks to be trying to spark a bit of fight in his team-mates.

71. 60'

    GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL!

72. 60'

    Glen Johnson brilliantly slips the ball to Torres on the penalty spot and the Spaniard coolly flicks the ball into the net. Another fine goal for Torres.

73. 63'

    Babel unleashes a shot following a driving run to the edge of the area, but it's blocked.

74. 63'

    Maxi tries a shot from a similar position but, again, it's blocked.

75. 64'

    Kuyt sends in a poor cross from out on the right. Goal kick.

76. 64'

    Babel gets a bit of fortune as he runs into the box. He feeds Maxi out on the right but Kuyt, further inside, takes on the shot off-balance and gets it all wrong.

77. 67'

    Bardsley sends a long ball into the area, but it comes to nothing. Sunderland still lack imagination.

78. 68'

    Turner disposesses Babel as he looks to come in from the left.

79. 69'

    Liverpool win a corner as Bardsley can't hook his clearance out for a throw-in.

80. 70'

    Mascherano gets the ball from the short corner and floats in a cross. Kuyt heads back across goal but it's cleared.

81. 71'

    Bent picks up a yellow card for bringing down Agger on another of the defenders forays forward.

82. 71'

    Kuyt comes off to be replaced by Aquilani.

83. 72'

    The ball runs to Torres on the edge of the area but he gets the shot all wrong.

84. 73'

    Gerrard brings down Jones and Sunderland have a free-kick within shooting range.

85. 74'

    Bent sends it well over the bar.

86. 76'

    Sunderland win a corner.

87. 76'

    Reina gets up to punch the ball clear under pressure from Turner. He looks to have taken a bit of a knock to the head, but he was straight up again.

88. 78'

    Gerrard looks to play a cross-field pass to Torres but Bardsley is able to head it away for a throw.

89. 78'

    Torres gets a standing ovation as he leaves the pitch to be replaced by Ngog.

90. 79'

    Zenden comes on in place of Henderson. He gets a good reception from the Anfield fans on his return.

91. 80'

    Campbell turns well just outside the box and Mascherano pulls him down with his hand. Free-kick.

92. 80'

    The free-kick comes in from the right and Reina claims.

93. 80'

    Richardson fires a good effort just wide from distance. Sunderland are starting to produce some decent play for the first time in the match.

94. 81'

    El Zhar comes on in place of Gerrard.

95. 81'

    The ball finds it way to Babel on the edge of the area and he brings a solid save from Gordon.

96. 85'

    Cana wins a free-kick as he bursts through and seems to lose possession as he collides with Agger.

97. 86'

    Richardson fires the free-kick well over.

98. 87'

    Liverpool have become a little sloppy in recent minutes.

99. 88'

    Babel wastes a counter attack as he flicks the ball aimlessly into the area for the defender to clear.

100. 91'

     Aquilani curls an effort in on goal, but it's comfortable for the goalkeeper.

101. 91'

     Zenden forces a fine stretching save from Reina with a shot from distance.

102. 92'

     Aquilani drives in a cross from the right as Liverpool break, and Turner is forced to head behind.

103. 92'

     The corner finds Ngog but he doesn't make the header and fails to get anything on goal.

104. 93'

     El Zhar puts in a good cross. The ball is directed out of the box and then comes back in for Ngog to swing a boot, but he can't get a shot away.

105. 93'

     It's all over and Liverpool win the match 3-0.

106. 93'

     Liverpool were superb in the first half and, although they took their foot off the gas a little towards the end, it was a confident display and will be a boost ahead of Thursday's Europa League match against Benfica.

107. 93'

     Thanks for joining us and stick with Soccernet for the report and post-match reaction.

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