Source: Northern_Echo
Larsson's leveller seals an Anfield draw
SEB LARSSON illustrated why Steve Bruce made him a priority signing this summer by grabbing a high quality second half equaliser at Anfield on the opening day of the Premier League season.[LNB] SEB LARSSON illustrated why Steve Bruce made him a priority signing this summer by grabbing a high quality second half equaliser at Anfield on the opening day of the Premier League season.[LNB] With Sunderland trailing to an early Luis Suarez header, Liverpool's failure to make the most of an impressive first half paved the way for the men from Wearside to pull level.[LNB] And Larsson, a free signing after opting to leave Birmingham at the end of his contract, it was who ensured Sunderland avoided defeat ahead of next weekend's derby with Newcastle.[LNB] Within the first five minutes it looked as if the opening afternoon of the season would end in disaster for Sunderland.[LNB] Kieran Richardson, as the last defender after a Black Cats attack broke down, tried to be clever on the halfway line and his attempted clearance bounced kindly for Suarez.[LNB] The Uruguayan darted clean through on goal and rounded goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, only for the recovering Richardson to trip him and concede a penalty.[LNB] On any other afternoon he could have been red carded. Instead referee Phil Dowd handed out a caution and from the spot-kick Suarez blasted uncharacteristically over.[LNB] But seven minutes later the South American, who only returned to training on Monday after extra time off following his exertions in the Copa America, did find the net.[LNB] This time he coasted to the front post unattended to flick Charlie Adam's free-kick beyond Mignolet to give Liverpool the lead.[LNB] Sunderland found it hard for the majority of the half, but were thankful for some excellent defending from Wes Brown at the heart of their defence.[LNB] Brown was one of only two new summer signings in the Sunderland ranks, with Larsson being the other.[LNB] And when Sunderland managed to get to the interval just a goal down, the visitors found their feet in the second half and pulled level in the 57th minute.[LNB] Ahmed Elmohamady crossed deep from the right. Larsson moved himself clear of full-back John Flanagan before leaving the ground to crash a stunning volley in to Pepe Reina's far corner.[LNB] While chances were few and far between for both teams from that moment, Sunderland could quite easily have nicked it having enjoyed plenty possession.[LNB] LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina; Flanagan, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Henderson (Kuyt 61), Lucas, Adam, Downing; Suarez (Meireles 75), Carroll. Subs: Doni (gk), Spearing, Ngog, Kelly, Robinson.[LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-4-1-1): Mignolet; Bardsley, Ferdinand, Brown, Richardson; Elmohamady, Cattermole, Colback, Larsson (Vaughan 80); Sessegnon, Gyan (Ji, 66) Subs: Gardner, Wickham, Bramble, Westwood (gk), Laing.[LNB]
