Sunderland 0 v Liverpool 1 - It's Torres Again !

After a garbage performance in the midweek against Standard Liege, Liverpool knows that they will to play much better to kick fly their season.

As expected, the game against Roy Keane's team was a tight affair with the Black Cats playing with determination and fire. Liverpool hardly found space and time to create something special.

Both goalkeepers are not really tested in the first half. Chances are far and few. Torres was heavily guarded by the Sunderland's defence. Not many clear cut chance for both teams though Sunderland look the more dangerous side when going forward. However the lack of a quality striker show in Sunderland attack. So the match ended o-o during the interval.
Both teams started the second half like that way they started the match. Alonso came on for the young Damien Plesis. His introduction do provide a more attacking approach to Liverpool'splay with his passes. Alonso certainly play better than in midweek. Liverpool has the best chance of the game when a Gerrard shot was parried away by Gordon only to find Torres lurking. Torres stabbed the ball goalward only to hit Robbie Keane's leg and off to safety. Torres simply could not believe his luck. Oh my, how can two striker go for the same ball? The Keane-Torres partnership certainly is not working yesterday. There was no understanding. Keane was subsequently substituted.

The match was almost certain to end in stalement when a moment of sheer brillance from Torres won the game for Liverpool. Torres picked up a loose ball and bring it to his right foot, one look and bang! The ball flew in past Gordon. It was a goal from a true class striker. Liverpool then hang on to 3 precious points and a good start to the new season.

As evident in the match, Liverpool again need to depend on Torres to deliever the goods. What if he is injured? Who is shouldering the burden for the Reds? Kuyt does not give you 20 goals a season and Keane is still finding his feet. Unless and until Liverpool recruit two more attacking players, Liverpool will solely miss Torres when he is unavailable.

It was nevertheless a great start for Liverpool as Arsenal has won their earlier match and Man Utd and Chelsea are expected to win their respective games later today.