Liverpool 3 -0 Sunderland
Premier League
Wednesday 2nd January 2013
Liverpool recorded their second consecutive 3-0 victory courtesy of goals from Raheem Sterling and Luis Suarez (2) against Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night.
This was a comfortable performance that capped a successful start to 2013 for Brendan Rodgers’ side, having completed the signing of Daniel Sturridge from Chelsea earlier in the day.
The Reds took the lead on 19 minutes through teenager Sterling after good work from Suarez – the two of them linked up superbly throughout. Sterling showed superb composure to calmly lob the ball over Mignolet.
Suarez added a second soon after when he took advantage of good refereeing from Phil Dowd after Carlos Cuellar had fouled Suarez but he shrugged him off and advanced to finish past the keeper with aplomb.
The third arrived early in the second, again Suarez was the scorer to grab his 15th League goal of the season. Gerrard was again involved, this time a raking 60 yard pass superbly into the Uruguayan forward who controlled and finished at The Kop end.
It was Gerrard’s eighth assist of the season – leading the way in the Premier League – as he rolled back the years with an absolute masterclass of passing in midfield. He continued his run of playing every single minute of Liverpool’s Premier League games this season.
It could have been more as Liverpool cruised to a finish; Joe Allen went close and had a goal disallowed, Gerrard’s mis-hit shot almost went in off Johnson, Sterling couldn’t finish when one-on-one and Henderson too went close.
With the score at 1-0 Pepe Reina made a crucial save from Kilgallon as he continues to show improved form. This was Liverpool’s 6th clean sheet in their last 10 games.
The win takes Rodgers’ side up to eighth in the League. Next up is Mansfield away in the FA Cup on Sunday, followed by a trip to Old Trafford.
Post Match Quotes
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said: “The star was our team. Luis Suarez got two goals and Raheem Sterling got one but that is their job and the team was brilliant.
“It was the fourth game in a short period of time and their work rate and intensity was incredible. I am very, very happy, it is another win for us and we can look forward to the next game.
“Luis has been absolutely fantastic. He moves well, he is a real threat and he is a real pleasure to work with. He is that Lionel Messi type of player in that he gets kicked all over the place but he gets up and he produces.”
Liverpool: Reina, Wisdom, Skrtel (Carragher 73), Agger, Johnson, Lucas, Henderson (Suso 67), Gerrard, Downing, Sterling (Allen 57), Suarez.
Subs not used: Jones, Robinson, Sahin, Shelvey.
Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 44,228
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