Source: Daily_Mail
Sunderland 0 Liverpool 2: Dirk Kuyt and Luis Suarez on target in Reds win
[LNB] They may have failed in pursuit of the Europa League last week but Liverpool kept their re-entry to the competition on track with a win at Sunderland. [LNB]On a day when old acquaintances were reunited at the Stadium of Light, referee Kevin Friend and assistant Billy Smallwood made plenty of new enemies on Wearside. [LNB]It all hinged on a controversial penalty decision. When Jay Spearing went tumbling under John Mensah's 32ndminute challenge on the edge of the Sunderland area, Friend correctly gave a free-kick. [LNB] Baby love: The Liverpool team dedicate Suarez's goal to Lucas's new-born [LNB]But Smallwood, who watched the referee walk to the area where Me n s a h a n d Spear ing had f i rst col l ided, thrust his flag across his chest, indicating a spot-kick, leaving Friend with little option but to change his mind. [LNB]Dirk Kuyt then sent Simon Mignolet the wrong way with the penalty. But as the striker and Lucas celebrated in the corner, with a baby cradling gesture to commemorate the birth of the midfielder's first son, Bruce's protests began. [LNB] On the spot: Kuyt opens the scoring at the Stadium of Light with a well-executed penalty [LNB] [LNB]Fourth official Martin Atkinson got an earful. He then got another from the Sunderland boss when news filtered down to the bench that replays showed Mensah had fouled Spearing outside the area. [LNB]After a superb 77th-minute Luis Suarez goal had sealed the win, Bruce had a more civilised chat with Friend and his officials. He said: 'I've tried effing and jeffing and itdoesn't work. So I had a word with them and it is fair to say the linesman probably won't get involved in anything like that again unless he is absolutely sure, but it doesn't do us any favours now.' [LNB] Making his mind up: Referee Kevin Friend originally awarded a free-kick before changing his mind [LNB] [LNB]The generosity of Friend and Smallwood may have given Kenny Dalglish's team the lift-off for this win, but Liverpool were good value without the help. [LNB]Owner John Henry was delighted and indicated talks with Dalglish to secure a permanent deal as manager are imminent. 'What is going on in that regard is private,' he said. [LNB]'It is something called the Liverpool way and you do these things behind closed doors. I am not going to talk about these things but he has done very well. We have tohave a lot of days like today to finish fifth.' [LNB] Mistake? Mensah appears to foul Jay Spearing on the edge of the box - but a penalty is awarded [LNB] [LNB]Kuyt put two headers off target in the first five minutes and Mignolet produced the save of the match from aSuarez shot just before half-time. Andy Carroll, amid constant barracking, saw a header cleared off the line by Lee Cattermole and the impressive Spearing also had a shot saved. [LNB]But the Belgian keeper was embarrassed by Suarez's fierce finish from an acute angle, which flew inside his near post, and Mensah's miserable afternoon was sealed by Friend five minutes later when he was sent off. [LNB] Up for the battle: Andy Carroll was making his first league start for Liverpool since his ?35m move[LNB]Suarez and Mensah have history after last year's Uruguay-Ghana World Cup quarter-final. When they collided chasing a through-ball and Suarez's heels were clipped by the Sunderlanddefender, Friend showed a straight red card. Bruce added: 'It puzzled me and I have asked the referee to look at it because I don't know if hewas denied a goalscoring opportunity.' [LNB]The Sunderland boss was also hit by two fresh injuries to his midfield which completely disrupted his team. [LNB] Bad day at the office: Mensah was shown a straight red card in the closing stages of the game [LNB]Sulley Muntari limped off in the 19thminute with a foot problem. Only three minutes later, Kieran Richardsonclutched his hamstring and he also hobbled off. [LNB]Bruce said: 'It is a big frustration,just when we think we're all signing and dancing, we get hit by injuries. By the end Phil Bardsley, Anton Ferdinand and Danny Welbeck all needed to come off, so we had eight playing at the final whistle.' [LNB] Match Facts and Stats[LNB] [LNB]A shot from substitute Cattermole in the 86th minute was Sunderland's only effort on target. This statistic must be a concern for Bruce, who has won only once since Darren Bent left. And the result, which leaves the hosts seven points behind Liverpool, was another blow in chairman Niall Quinn's quest to fill the stadium regularly. [LNB]'It was just a horrible afternoon,' admitted Bruce. 'I have no complaints about the result but until the penalty there was nothing in the game and it was a catalogue of mistakesfrom the referee and linesman which, for me, were the turning point.'[LNB] The ref got it wrong! Carragher admits Liverpool didn't deserve penalty LIVE: Sunderland v Liverpool - how the action unfolded at the Stadium of LightHenry back to watch Liverpool and unveil his Anfield planSuarez is 'the most hated person' in Ghana, says GyanThe Matt Lawton interview: Suarez - I want to be known for great goalsDalglish in talks over signing two-year permanent deal as Liverpool managerBruce praises his 'more mature' Sunderland captain CattermoleAll the latest Liverpool news, features and opinionAll the latest Sunderland news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Dirk Kuyt, Darren Bent, Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll, Lee Cattermole, Kenny Dalglish, Niall Quinn, Martin Atkinson Places: Liverpool
