Source: Team_Talk
Black Cats burst Reds' bubble
uis Suarez gave Liverpool the perfect start to their Premier League season but they were pegged back by Sunderland in a 1-1 draw at Anfield.[LNB] With £49million worth of new signings on the pitch on Saturday, there was a feeling of optimism and it was therefore fitting Suarez, the January acquisition who ignited the second half of last season, should score the first goal of the new campaign.[LNB]Having missed a fifth-minute penalty the Uruguay striker made amends by heading in a free-kick from Charlie Adam - one of three summer signings in the starting line-up.[LNB]Suarez's fellow January arrival Andy Carroll had a goal disallowed and another July new boy Stewart Downing rattled the crossbar with a long-range shot as Sunderland struggled to keep themselves afloat in the opening half-hour.[LNB]But Liverpool's flowing, passing football evaporated well before the break and they failed to rediscover it as the Black Cats sensed their chance and seized it, securing a point thanks to Sebastian Larsson's brilliant equaliser 12 minutes into the second half.[LNB]It somewhat pricked the pre-season bubble which had begun to develop at the club after owners Fenway Sports Group spent more than £50million in bolstering the squad.[LNB]Of those acquisitions, Adam impressed, Jordan Henderson began brightly before fading, Jose Enrique was solid at left-back while Downing was quietly effective having been employed in a number of roles.[LNB]But it was former Ajax forward Suarez who had honour of scoring the first goal of the season in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]The star of the Copa America, which his nation won, only returned to training on Monday but showed no ill-effects of having a short lay-off.[LNB]His only blemish was that missed spot-kick but after eventually opening his account his goal is likely to be the first of many.[LNB]Recent fixtures between these two teams have not been without controversy, with Darren Bent's beachball-assisted strike two years ago and last season a mistaken backpass which led to Dirk Kuyt scoring at Anfield and a dubious penalty for Liverpool's first at the Stadium of Light.[LNB]The 2012 edition was no different as after just five minutes the hosts were awarded a penalty when Suarez charged down Kieran Richardson's clearance, with a slight suspicion of an arm, on the halfway line only to go down in the area under the challenge of Richardson after rounding Simon Mignolet.[LNB]Referee Phil Dowd showed the left-back a yellow card but Suarez blazed the penalty over.[LNB]But the £22.8million striker was not to be denied and when Adam whipped in a low, inswinging free-kick from the right in the 12th minute he nipped in at the near post to head in off the legs of Mignolet.[LNB]Carroll thought he had opened his account for the season when he chested down Adam's left-wing cross before smashing home but the flag had already gone up for the slightest of touches on Anton Ferdinand.[LNB]Adam had Mignolet clutching his 35-yard shot at the second attempt while Downing was even closer, crashing a shot off the crossbar after a driving run down the inside-right channel from five yards inside his own half.[LNB]But somehow, from a position of dominance, Liverpool appeared to lose their way and the interval certainly put paid to their dwindling momentum.[LNB]Sunderland seized their opportunity to gain a foothold in the game and should have equalised in the 53rd minute when John Flanagan's mistake at right-back allowed Sebastian Larsson, one of Sunderland's new signings, to get forward and cross but Asamoah Gyan headed straight at Jose Reina from close range.[LNB]If that was a warning to Kenny Dalglish's side they did not heed it as just four minutes later they conceded an equaliser.[LNB]Ahmed Elmohamady hung up a deep cross to the far post and Larsson found himself in enough space to superbly volley back across goal and past Reina.[LNB]From that point it appeared Sunderland were the most likely winners.[LNB]Liverpool regained more control late on as they pushed for a winner but with Suarez having been replaced it was left to Carroll to lead the line.[LNB]The £35million club-record signing huffed and puffed a lot but could fashion only half-chances as his side laboured.[LNB]It is, of course, early days but these are the sort of matches Dalglish knows his side have to win this season if they are to haul themselves back into the top four.
