Reds continue title charge beating Black Cats

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 2:1 Sunderland

Liverpool continued their Premier League title charge going second after narrowly beating Sunderland 2-1 at Anfield.

Skipper Steven Gerrard netted a free-kick vintage style, with unstoppable speed and quality curl to open the scoring after 38 minutes.

Striker Daniel Sturridge doubled the score shortly after the break, with a deflection off Wes Brown into the top left corner of the net to make Liverpool only the third club in Premier League history to record two players with 20+ goals.

The former Chelsea striker and Luis Suarez have now scored the same amount of goals as the whole Manchester United team = 48 goals, the best partnership in Europe!

Sunderland did produce a threat, midfielder Lee Cattermole shattering the bar shortly before sub Ki Sung-Yueng headed one on off a corner, showing Brendan Rodgers' men's weakness and frailty at the back and making it a nervous final quarter of an hour for the Reds.

An unmarked John O'Shea came close to spoil the show late on, but the home side held on to a crucial win, keeping the title race wide open, just one point behind league leaders Chelsea with seven games to go.

Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland

Liverpool Goals: 1.: 38:12min Steven Gerrard (8), 2.: 47:44min Daniel Sturridge (15).

Sunderland Goals: 1.: 75:30min Ki Sung-Yueng (4).

Liverpool Team: 22 Mignolet; 38 Flanagan, 5 Agger, 37 Skrtel, 2 Johnson; 8 Gerrard; 14 Henderson, 24 Allen; 10 Coutinho; 7 Suarez, 15 Sturridge (31 Sterling- 77th min). 4-1-2-1-2

Subs not used: 1 Jones, 9 Aspas, 12 Moses, 17 Sakho, 20 Cissokho, 21 Lucas.

Sunderland Team: 25 Mannone; 27 Vergini (booked 37th min), 16 O'Shea, 5 Brown; 3 Dossena (14 Colback- 83rd min), 26 Bridcutt, 33 Cattermole, 2 Bardsley (booked 40th min); 23 Giaccherini (11 Johnson- 61st min); 10 Wickham (4 Ki Sung-Yueng- 61st min), 17 Altidore. 3-4-2-1

Subs not used: 7 Larsson, 29 Roberge, 30 Scocco, 32 Usteri.

Opta Match Stats: Liverpool-Sunderland

(Attack)

Shots: 21-12

On Target: 7-4

Blocked Shots: 3-2

From outside the box: 12-7

From inside the box: 9-5

Accuracy: 38.9%-40%

(General Play)

Possession: 61.1%-38.9%

Duels Won: 56.3%-43.7%

Aerial Duels Won: 59.3%-40.7%

Interceptions: 15-7

Offsides: 2-2

Corners: 3-4

(Distribution)

Total Passes: 588-348

Long: 8%-16.1%

Accuracy: 87.6%-75%

Opp. Half: 81.1%-64%

Total Crosses: 15-24

Successful: 13.3%-16.7%

(Defence & Discipline)

Tackles: 17-27

Tackles Won: 76.5%-85.2%

Clearances: 32-17

Fouls Conceded: 5-15

Yellow Cards: 0-2

Red Cards: 0-0

Referee: Kevin Friend

Attendance: 44,524

Man of the Match: Philippe Coutinho