Liverpool – Sunderland

1. Hi and welcome to the Liverpool v Sunderland match commentary. Headline team news is that for Liverpool, Gerrard is fit to play, Torres is not and Mascherano is at right back. For Sunderland, Kenwyne Jones has recovered from a knee injury and Djibril Cisse is on the bench.

2. Teams in full are: Liverpool: Reina, Mascherano, Skrtel, Carragher, Insua, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Riera, Kuyt, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Aurelio, Babel, Lucas, El Zhar. Sunderland: Fulop, Ben-Haim, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Reid, Leadbitter, Richardson, Jones. Subs: Gordon, Bardsley, Edwards, Cisse, Murphy, Davenport, Healy.

3. For all Liverpool's bluster about winning the league, the way it looks now is that they'll do well to come second, which is a pretty fair reflection of where they're at. Ultimately, they aren't anywhere near as good as the teams currently ahead of them in the table, regardless of how you look at it - quality of first choice eleven, squad strength, number of matchwinners or ability to vary their style of play.

4. This is the kind of game that Liverpool have been struggling to win this season, and should they fail to score in the first 20 minutes, they may find Sunderland difficult to break down.

5. Sunderland will line up with five in midfield. If Jones can hold the ball up, he's got some decent players behind him - Malbranque and Reid especially - who may be able to threaten what is a makeshift Liverpool defence.

6. Liverpool to kick off...

7. Liverpool passing the ball backwards and forwards, Sunderland pressurising them once they get into their half. I may be typing this a lot.

8. 3'

   A Sunderland attack is easily foiled by a combination of Liverpool defenders.

9. 4'

   Terrible miss by Kenwyne Jones when one-on-one. With no one anywhere near him he slid it much too close to Reina. Good approach work by Jones though - made Skrtel look silly.

10. 6'

    Sunderland look confident here. They win a free kick on their right hand side after a foul by Insua. Meanwhile Jones is still berating himself for his earlier miss.

11. 7'

    Benayoun works the ball to Gerrard who bundles it throught to Ngog. The resulting shot is blocked.

12. 8'

    A shot from Riera hits Ben-Haim's but he couldn't get it out of the way.

13. 9'

    Benayoun tricks his way into the Sunderland box from the right wing but it comes to nothing.

14. 10'

    Nice passing from Sunderland although Jones' touch is off at the end of the move and he fails to control the ball on his chest.

15. 11'

    Liverpool haven't been able to get Gerrard on the ball yet.

16. 12'

    But Kuyt has a shot from just outside the box on the right whch Fulop saes easily enough down to his left.

17. 12'

    Richardson's low shot from 25 yards is saved easily by Reina.

18. 13'

    Benayoun into Kuyt, wide to Mascherano on the right, but his cross is poor.

19. 14'

    Benayoun looks Liverpool's most dangerous player at the moment and you wonder why he was "rested" for the Boro game at the weekend.

20. 15'

    Kuyt slides in and narrowly misses getting on the end of Benayoun's low cross which he fizzes across the box.

21. 16'

    Ngog booked for a late tackle on Ben-Haim, who'll launch the ball into the box from the free kick just inside the Liverpool half. It comes to nothing.

22. 17'

    Good work down the right from Mascherano, but Danny Collins defends well and eventually wins a goal kick.

23. 19'

    Anfield is exceptionally quiet tonight. Perhaps there are 40,000 monks in attendance.

24. 20'

    Liverpool are not passing the ball accurately enough or quickly enough to trouble Sunderland.

25. 21'

    Although just as I say that, Riera's shot is blocked after smart work from Ngog.

26. 22'

    The ball breaks to Riera in the box, and following a scramble, Sunderland are awarded a free kick after Kuyt pushes Ferdinand in the back.

27. 23'

    Dirk Kuyt may try very hard, but it fails to obscure his lack of ability. He has just wasted a good position with an inaccurate cross, although he didn't have a whole lot to aim at.

28. 24'

    Kolo Toure scores for Arsenal, putting them 2-1 up away at West Brom.

29. 26'

    Benayoun's shot from 25 yards is blocked by Collins.

30. 26'

31. 27'

    Liverpool have a corner on the left hand side, but the cross is too high for Kuyt at the back post.

32. 27'

    Sunderland are shutting Liverpool down well so far.

33. 28'

    Ben-Haim penalised for a foul on Riera. Good opportunity for Gerrard to put the ball in the box, but it's too long, rather like the corner a few minutes ago.

34. 29'

    Kuyt through to Ngog, left hand side of the area, but Fulop easily claims his cross.

35. 31'

    It's actually relatively difficult to find things to say about this game so far - you'd find more action in a vacuum.

36. 31'

    First proper save for Fulop - Riera's shot is deflected by Leadbitter,and the keeper does well to get down to his right and push it round the post.

37. 32'

    Mascherano's shot whistles just over the bar. Fulop leaves it as though he knew it was going over, but it was very close.

38. 33'

    Now 3-1 Arsenal at The Hawthorns - Bendtner with the goal.

39. 34'

    It's those watching this without the distraction of writing minute-by-minute updates who I feel sorry for.

40. 35'

    Gerrard wins a corner on the right which he'll take himself.

41. 35'

    He cuts it back for Insua, whose shot is blocked. The ball is cleared as far as Gerrard, who whacks it over the bar.

42. 36'

    Portsmouth and Chelsea are goalless at half time. The way both Liverpool and Chelsea have capitulated at the merest hint of pressure from Manchester United reflects well on neither of them.

43. 37'

    Corner to Sunderland on the right. Poor delivery, but Richardson wins another, this time on the opposite flank.

44. 38'

    Ball breaks to Richardson on the edge of the Liverpool box but he shoots weakly with his weaker right foot.

45. 38'

    Malbranque smuggles the ball into Jones, whose touch nearly takes him away from the Liverpool defence.

46. 39'

    Good ball in from Riera on the Liverpool left, but Kuyt can't get any power in his header.

47. 41'

    Gerrard misplaces a pass in centrefield to groans around Anfield.

48. 41'

    Kuyt is unable to get on the end of Benayoun's pass, thanks to the attention of two Sunderland defenders.

49. 43'

    Ngog breaks down the middle, wide to Mascherano on the right, whose shot billows the net - but on the wrong side of the post. He'd have been better to pass.

50. 44'

    Kuyt, out to Riera on the left, but Ngog can't get a clean header - good defending from Ferdinand. Resultant corner comes to nothing.

51. 45'

    Mascherano lucky not to be booked after stopping a Sunderland break with a cynical foul.

52. 45'

    Minimum of one minute added time before the panacea of half time.

53. 45'

    Half time.

54. 45'

    Well, that was an utterly miserable half of football. Jones should have given Sunderland the lead, but that's pretty much the sum of the goalmouth action. There's also not been much in the way of good football - but on the plus side, and as D:Ream said, things can only get better.

55. 45'

    Just seen that Jones miss again - he really should be ashamed of himself. Absolutely roasted the lumbering Carragher, but although Reina didn't come out - giving him plenty to aim at - his shot was tame.

56. 45'

    Looking at the Liverpool bench, there's not much to rescue them (or us) from the crushing mediocrity on show. If only they'd not sent Voronin out on loan...

57. 45'

    Players are out, second half about to begin.

58. 46'

    Sunderland kick off.

59. 47'

    Benayoun feeds a clever ball into Ngog whose touch is poor, but wins Liverpool a corner.

60. 47'

    Benyaoun's header flashes wide from the corner.

61. 48'

    Aimless ball from McCartney not dealt with especially well by the Liverpool defence and Sunderland have a throw.

62. 48'

    Which comes to nothing.

63. 49'

    Alonso's long, raking pass from right to left is too strong for Ngog.

64. 50'

    Good break from Sunderland who move the ball forward quickly, but the pass to Jones is too late and too heavy and Carragher makes the tackle.

65. 51'

    Leadbitter's cross from the right is nowhere near a blue shirt and easy for Reina.

66. 52'

    GOAL! Riera skins Ben-Haim down the left, his cross finds Gerrard, who heads for goal inaccurately - unsurprisingly given how small his forehead is - buit the ball falls to Ngog, and he scuffs it over the line. 1-0.

67. 55'

    After that moment of relative excitement the game has now reverted to type.

68. 56'

    Whitehead crosses from the left but Jones heads wide.

69. 57'

    Insua shoots wide across Fulop after cutting in from the left following Riera's pass . It was a good chance, but had he squared it, Liverpool would probably be two up. Ah the impetuosity of youth.

70. 59'

    Gerrard lashes a shot wide from quite a distance out on the left hand side. It now looks as though Liverpool will score again - Sunderland are beginning to look a little ragged.

71. 60'

    That shows what I know. Malbranque belts a volley wide from 15 yards on the right hand side of the area. Only a half-chance, but better than anything Sunderland have had since Jones' miss and he had time to line it up as he waited for the ball to drop.

72. 62'

    Richardson breaks centrally, feeds it wide right and Sunderland win a free kick as Mascherano fouls Malbranque. Typically he gesticulates wildly for no reason. Before the free kick, Cisse replaces Leadbitter.

73. 62'

    Richardson's free kick is disgusting - hammered into the stand - and he looks suitably sheepish.

74. 63'

    Ngog has cramp and the game stops. I must say I don't get this - the game should continue and Ngog should get fitter. We've only been playing an hour.

75. 65'

    An uncramped Ngog wastes a good position wide on the right and Malbranque is now affecting a limp.

76. 65'

    GOAL! Fulop makes an obscene mess of Ngog's speculative shot, palming it out to Benayoun, and it's impossible for him to miss from 3 yards out. Game over.

77. 66'

    Gerrard almost breaks through but a last-ditch tackle from Ferdinand denies him. Riera then makes space for himself cutting in from the left, but shoots over when he should at least hit the target.

78. 68'

    Benayoun crumples to floor claiming a penalty but the referee waves away the half-hearted protests.

79. 69'

    Fulop really shot his team in the foot with that error - Sunderland put two up front and he gifts Liverpool another goal. Damage limitation now.

80. 70'

    Kuyt's shot deflected behind for a corner. Lucas on for Ngog, who despite not looking much like a footballer has a goal and an assist to show for his night's work. Corner is wasted.

81. 71'

    Reid has a little run, but can't find an angle for a pass. He's probably Sunderland's best footballer, but has been almost annonymous tonight.

82. 72'

    Liverpool have been much better after half-time and the game has been better accordingly.

83. 73'

    Chelsea are 1-0 up at Portsmouth, Didier Drogba the goalscorer.

84. 74'

    Surprising that Gerrard hasn't been withdrawn with Liverpool's next game at home to Madrid in mind.

85. 75'

    It's now a while since Sunderland had the ball.

86. 76'

    Kenwyne Jones replaced by Daryl Murphy. Jones will not sleep well tonight - it could have all been so different.

87. 77'

    Benayoun once again throws himself theatrically to the floor, flailing his arms in protest at the free kick he feels his endeavours deserve.

88. 78'

    Alonso whacks the ball wide, consoling himself with a very adept spit on the turf.

89. 78'

    Gerrard whips the ball wide from 25 yards, trying to beat Fulop at his near post.

90. 78'

    Gerrard whips the ball wide from 25 yards, trying to beat Fulop at his near post.

91. 79'

    Kuyt wastes a 3 v 2 situation, as his attempted pass to Benayoun is intercepted.

92. 78'

    Final score at The Hawthorns is West Brom 1 Arsenal 3

93. 80'

    Chelsea win at Portsmouth 1-0 to stay second unless Liverpool score a further seven goals.

94. 82'

    Liverpool replace Gerrard with Babel. Given the latter's expertise in scoring goals when his team has a game already won, maybe they will indeed go ahead of Chelsea.

95. 83'

    At last, a shot from Sunderland, but Carlos Edwards' effort flies well wide.

96. 84'

    One wonders why Benayoun hasn't featured more often for Liverpool this season. He's been easily their best player tonight and is a lot better than those who've been selected ahead of him.

97. 85'

    Liverpool appear to have settled for two and Sunderland are making only a cursory effort to compete.

98. 86'

    Long ball from Carragher towards Riera is aimless, but as Fulop comes to claim it, Ben-Haim slides in and gives away a corner, with his keeper narrowly avoiding decapitation. Corner comes to nothing, but Liverpool work the ball back to Alonso, and Fulop saves Lucas' header.

99. 88'

    Good run down the left from Babel, cutting in and skinning Collins, but his low shot is too close to Fulop who saves comfortably enough.

100. 90'

     Mascherano flattened by Reid, but the referee seems to think is was Whitehead, and Whitehead is booked.

101. 90'

     Riera's free kick is too close to Fulop who palms it back into play for no reason and Kuyt bundles it over the bar.

102. 90'

     Benayoun has been replaced by El-Zahr.

103. 93'

     Lucas' pass finds touch.

104. 93'

     FULL TIME. After a miserable first half, Liverpool improved enough in the second to dispatch Sunderland with plenty to spare. Still, it's easy to see why they've dropped so many points recently, and had Jones taken that early chance, it might have been much trickier.

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