Source: SKY_Sports
Reds keep hopes alive
Liverpool boosted lingering hopes of the Premier League trophy making its way to Anfield in May with a 2-0 home victory over Sunderland on Tuesday night.[LNB] With a couple of exceptions - a dramatic late win over Chelsea and a UEFA Champions League success at Real Madrid - the Reds' season has nosedived since the turn of the year, but midweek goals from David Ngog and Yossi Benayoun raised morale on Merseyside.[LNB]Behind-the-scenes rumours regarding the future of Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez have gathered pace in 2009, while a January FA Cup elimination to derby rivals Everton came at a time when the club were in the process of surrendering top spot to arch foes Manchester United.[LNB]Middlesbrough piled on the misery with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool on Saturday, however, three days later, Benitez's side - who have now played two games more than United - closed the gap on the champions to four points.[LNB]The first half ended goalless, but Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones should have put the visitors in front in the opening minutes when one-on-one with Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina, who stood tall and dived low to his right to save. [LNB]But after the interval Steven Gerrard miscued a header from an Albert Riera cross, and Ngog, making his first Anfield start, was in the right place to turn in from close range on 52 minutes.[LNB]And 13 minutes later scorer turned provided as Benayoun doubled Liverpool's lead after Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop had horribly spilled an Ngog cross-shot.[LNB]Benitez made four changes from the side that lost to Middlesbrough and he chose to use Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano at right-back.[LNB]OptionsSunderland made only one change from the side that drew at Arsenal last time out, with Grant Leadbitter taking over from the injured Teemu Tainio.[LNB]Benitez is clearly running out of options at right-back, with Alvaro Arbeloa still injured. Jamie Carragher seems not to fancy the job any more so Mascherano was removed from his critical ball-winning midfield role to fill the void.[LNB]It left Liverpool with almost a 4-4-2, with Gerrard and Xabi Alonso in centre of midfield. Dirk Kuyt's roving role behind Ngog meant the French teenager was left on his own against Danny Collins and Anton Ferdinand.[LNB]And he did pretty well at times. His pace and energy not quite able to make up for the loss of Fernando Torres' brilliance, but Ngog certainly showed spirit.[LNB]Sunderland should have been ahead after just four minutes when Jones ran clear after Martin Skrtel's slip, but Reina saved well to his right.[LNB]Gerrard, twice, Ngog and Riera all had shots charged down, while Fulop saved well to his left to keep out a Kuyt drive.[LNB]Ngog's enthusiasm got the better of him when he was then booked after 15 minutes for a foul on Tal Ben-Haim.[LNB]Fulop made an outstanding save after 31 minutes, finger-tipping the ball away at full-stretch from his right post, when Riera's low drive was deflected off Leadbitter.[LNB]Mascherano then saw a dipping 30-yard effort graze the bar, before Emiliano Insua, Alonso and Gerrard all tried their luck with Sunderland increasingly forced back into their box on defence.[LNB]InspiredOne break inspired by a fine Gerrard tackle on Kieran Richardson allowed Ngog to set up Mascherano on the right, but his drive was into the side-netting.[LNB]Liverpool started the second period at a higher tempo, with Benayoun willing to run at defenders.[LNB]And it was Benayoun who swept the ball out to Riera on the left to pave the way for Liverpool to take the lead after 52 minutes.[LNB]Riera sent over a deep cross that Gerrard headed back into the six-yard box for Ngog to fire home his first league goal for the club.[LNB]Sunderland were forced to come forward, and Steed Malbranque saw a shot from the right fly over the bar.[LNB]After 62 minutes Sunderland brought on Djibril Cisse for Leadbitter, the former Liverpool man getting a rousing reception from the Anfield crowd.[LNB]Four minutes later Liverpool got their second. Again Ngog was involved, hooking the ball back across goal for Fulop to fumble and Benayoun punished the error.[LNB]The next ovation was for Ngog. He had been struggling with cramp and was replaced by Lucas Leiva after 71 minutes.[LNB]Lucas, with a header, and fellow substitute Ryan Babel - shooting from the edge of the box - threatened to extend the lead, before Nabil El Zhar came on for Benayoun in the final minute.[LNB][LNB][LNB]Liverpool[LNB]Team Statistics[LNB]Sunderland[LNB][LNB][LNB]2[LNB]Goals[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]1st Half Goals[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]8[LNB]Shots on Target[LNB]2[LNB][LNB][LNB]13[LNB]Shots off Target[LNB]4[LNB][LNB][LNB]10[LNB]Blocked Shots[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]7[LNB]Corners[LNB]2[LNB][LNB][LNB]10[LNB]Fouls[LNB]6[LNB][LNB][LNB]2[LNB]Offsides[LNB]2[LNB][LNB][LNB]1[LNB]Yellow Cards[LNB]1[LNB][LNB][LNB]0[LNB]Red Cards[LNB]0[LNB][LNB][LNB]85[LNB]Passing Success[LNB]70[LNB][LNB][LNB]20[LNB]Tackles[LNB]19[LNB][LNB][LNB]85[LNB]Tackles Success[LNB]68.4[LNB][LNB][LNB]63.2[LNB]Possession[LNB]36.8[LNB][LNB][LNB]53.3[LNB]Territorial Advantage[LNB]46.7[LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB][LNB]
