Lacklustre Liverpool sneak past Sunderland

Barclays Premiership: Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool (Stadium of Light)

A poor performance by Liverpool, which would more often than not have resulted in a goalless draw last season, ended in a victory. A sublime finish by Spanish striker Fernando Torres saw the Reds get off to a flying start for the new season. It is just a shame that the same cannot be said about the rest of the game.

Sunderland, who had an influx of players join them over the break, looked on form and on occasion in the first half even looked like taking the early lead were it not for a brave defensive and goalkeeping display put on by Liverpool's back-line.

Liverpool, who themselves were not without club debutants in the form of Dossena, Plessis and the much talked about Robbie Keane were finding it hard to gel and string an attack together. They lost possession one too many times, allowing the Black Cats to surge forward at every available opportunity.

The first half was dominated by them as they had a plethora of chances that they were unable to finish. El Hadji Diouf was denied early on through a defensive clearance by Jamie Carragher and later Daryl Murphy headed straight at Pepe Reina from six yards out.

Much was said before the game about Liverpool's £46m strikeforce - Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane, who were even prematurely likened to the magical partnership of Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush. The travelling Reds had to wait till the second half when a shot by Dirk Kuyt was parried and the rebound somehow went wide as neither Torres or Keane were unable to finish, instead the shot from Torres was inadvertently cleared by Keane.

He was subbed for Nabil El Zhar six minuted before Liverpool's goal.

Xabi Alonso was brought on in the second half to spur the Reds forward but they still found it increasingly difficult to break down a determined Sunderland defence. Alonso even had an attempt at goal from his own half echoing fantastic finishes againt Luton Town and Newcastle in recent years, which went just a yard wide of Gordon's post.

The breakthrough came in the 83rd minute as Reina played route one to Alonso, who found Torres on the edge of the box. A clinical finish by Liverpool's darling of the Kop from just outside the box resulted in an all-Spanish goal, stunning the home crowd.

Sunderland didn't deserve to lose the game. A draw might have been a fairer result but the ever-determined Liverpool are out to prove a point this season by mounting a serious title challenge.

They will have to play much better than that if they are to be sure of any silverware this season.