Suarez and Kuyt fire in 2-0 win

Luis Suarez crashed home a superb solo effort as Liverpool eased to a deserved 2-0 win at Sunderland on Sunday afternoon.

The Uruguay star capped a majestic all-round display with a stunning near-post finish on 77 minutes after Dirk Kuyt had put the Reds in control with a first-half penalty.

The victory means our hopes of securing European football for next season remain very much alive as Kenny Dalglish's men moved to within four points of fifth-placed Tottenham with eight matches left to play.

Ahead of the contest the Scot gave a signal of his intent by selecting what was arguably Liverpool's most-attacking line-up of the season.

Andy Carroll made his first full start in the Barclays Premier League while Suarez returned following his ineligibility in Europe.

It offered the Travelling Kop the first glimpse of a much-anticipated strike partnership and the Reds were further buoyed by the return from injury of Daniel Agger.

The team sheet certainly gave those who had made the trip to the north-east reason for optimism and that feeling would have intensified when the visitors went close on five minutes.

Kuyt saw his shot on the turn brilliantly blocked by the legs of Simon Mignolet before going even closer when he powered a free header over the crossbar from the resulting corner.

For their part the hosts had looked dangerous without truly threatening but on 17 minutes they almost stole ahead. Asamoah Gyan and Danny Welbeck combined brilliantly down the left but the latter saw his superb cross flash right across the six yard box.

Liverpool responded instantly and Suarez linked up with Carroll to tee up Spearing but when the youngster passed up the opportunity to shoot the chance went begging.

The hosts were looking shaky at the back and their cause wasn't helped by a double injury blow that saw both Sulley Muntari and Kieran Richardson depart inside the first 25 minutes.

Free: Players observe minute's silence

The Reds looked to take advantage and on 33 minutes they snatched the lead in controversial circumstances.

John Mensah was caught in possession by Spearing and as the midfielder surged towards the penalty area he was brought crashing to the ground.

Referee Kevin Friend initially awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box but changed his mind and pointed to the spot after consulting his assistant on the far touchline.

The hosts protested but it was all in vain as Kuyt stepped up and coolly sent Mignolet the wrong way before racing to the corner flag to join his teammates in a pre-planned celebration in honour of Lucas Leiva, who became the proud father of baby Pedro on Saturday.

The strike was enough to see Liverpool go in at the interval in the driving seat, much to the chagrin of the home support. Indeed, the half-time whistle was greeted by boos of frustration from the vast majority of fans at the Stadium of Light, but the Travelling Kop would have merely seen it as a case of karma righting itself following the beach ball incident that decided the outcome of the fixture last season.

The Black Cats' sense of injustice carried into the second period but Dalglish's men remained focus on the task in hand and should have doubled their advantage within minutes of the restart.

First Glen Johnson was denied a clear strike on goal by some desperate defending by Mensah before Carroll saw a thumping header hacked off the line by substitute Lee Cattermole.

The away side continued to look the more likely and Suarez came within a whisker of netting when he curled a free-kick inches wide of the far post.

Next it was Spearing's turn to go close as he forced a smart save out of Mignolet with a stinging 25 yard drive.

There was a real sense that a second goal was in the offing and 13 minutes from the end Suarez got it when he left Cattermole for dead on the right flank before cutting in and fizzing a rising shot beyond Mignolet at the near post.

The home side were clearly frustrated with what they felt was a raw deal and their afternoon was summed up just moments later when Mensah was shown a straight red card for a professional foul on Suarez.

Not that it affected Liverpool, who almost added a third late on when substitute David Ngog nodded a good chance just off target. 

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