An improved Liverpool professionally saw off what might have been a tricky encounter against Sunderland on Tuesday evening, thanks to young David Ngog and Yossi Benayoun...
David Ngog was the man who thrust into Fernando Torres' novelty sized boots in the Liverpool attack, with Albert Riera and Yossi Benayoun returning to Rafael Benitez's XI. Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, played at right-back. Grant Leadbitter came in for Sunderland, while Kenwyne Jones passed a late fitness check to start.
First Half
This was a crucial game for Liverpool in a sold out and tense Anfield, but it was the Black Cats who nearly took the lead early on. Jones picked up the ball on the halfway line, getting the better of Martin Skrtel and surging through, but he couldn't finish after hesitating in front of Pepe Reina. The 'keeper was relieved to make the save.
Torres' understudy Ngog had a mixed opening period which highlighted the absence of 'El Nino' further. Skipper Steven Gerrard looked to ping balls into the young Frenchman but, despite a couple of promising flashes, his first touch more often than not let him down and he was caught offside on a couple of occasions. He iced his own bitter cake with a yellow card in due course.
As one would expect, 'Pool dominated possession, although it took until midway through the first-half for them to start creating even half chances. Mascherano had a shot blocked – by defensive hands, arguably – and then went close with a long-range effort on the half-hour mark.
Grant Leadbitter replied for the visitors, attempting a Xabi Alonso-like effort from just inside Liverpool's half after spotting Reina off his line. However, it didn't land and Jones felt a through-ball to him was the better option.
Albert Riera then tried something a little different, forgetting his trusty left-peg in order to cut inside and have a go on his right. The shot needed tipped away impressively by Marton Fulop.
As half-time loomed, the crowd were a nervy collective and would be expecting far more cutting edge in the final third after the break.
Second Half
Liverpool managed to start quickly in the second period, with more of a 'now or never' attitude. Yossi Benayoun was first to try his luck from an early corner, heading just past the post as he looked to repeat last week's aerial antics in Madrid.
However, the next wave washed a goal past the Sunderland rearguard. Riera offered width on the left and collected, beating Tal Ben Haim before crossing for Gerrard. The advanced midfielder headed from the back post for young Ngog, who finished well from three yards to bag his first Premier League goal.
Down the left, Riera and Emiliano Insua then almost conspired to make it two, but the latter lashed well wide to ruin a decent move.
Sunderland responded on the hour-mark by introducing forward Djibril Cisse, who was greeted warmly as he padded onto his former stomping ground with his orange boots and dyed red hair.
However, the tide was unstoppable and 'Pool soon doubled their advantage. Ngog's cross from the left bounced off a Sunderland body and 'keeper Fulop tried to gather, but he spilled and Benayoun was only to happy to double the Reds' advantage.
From then on Liverpool had their guests pinned back and beaten in midfield. Ricky Sbragia's troops didn't exactly give up, but Benitez's men were playing with new-found belief which they'll hope to replicate going forward.
All three subs - Lucas Leiva, Ryan Babel and Nabil El Zhar - had good chances to make it more comfortable in the closing moments, but the dirty deeds had already been done.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Mascherano, Skrtel, Carragher, Insua, Benayoun (El Zhar 90), Gerrard (Babel 82), Alonso, Riera, Kuyt, Ngog (Lucas 70).
Sunderland: Fulop, Ben-Haim, Ferdinand, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque (Edwards 81), Whitehead, Reid, Leadbitter (Cisse 62), Richardson, Jones (Murphy 76).
Greg Ptolomey, Goal.com
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