Premier League - Suarez seals Liverpool victory
A controversial penalty and a superb Luis Suarez strike helped Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-0 in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light.
The livewire Uruguayan was ultimately the star of the show, but he did also appear to tweak his hamstring in the final minute and was immediately withdrawn.
For Sunderland, though, it was a truly nightmarish afternoon as they saw Sulley Muntari and Kieran Richardson both go off injured before the 22nd minute, and then had John Mensah sent-off eight minutes from time.
The goal that saw them go 1-0 down in the first-half will also enrage them as Dirk Kuyt scored from a spot-kick that was awarded for a foul on Jay Spearing that looked to be outside the box.
What is more, the referee Kevin Friend also initially awarded a free-kick - but was convinced to change his mind by one of his assistants.
There was no doubt about the second goal in the 77th minute though, as Suarez cut in from the right before smashing a goal into the top corner when it looked to be an impossible angle.
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet should not have left a gap at his near post for the ball to fizz through, but even he must have been surprised that Suarez tried something so audacious.
Mignolet was arguably Sunderland's best player in a game that saw the hosts dominate possession but Liverpool create all the chances.
Liverpool were struggling to hang onto the ball in the opening half-hour but they did have the best early chance when Mignolet made a point-blank save from Kuyt after he got on the end of Andy Carroll's flick on from a corner.
Carroll was starting up front with Suarez for the first time, but the £35 million man struggled to hold up the ball at times and he was off the field by the time Suarez scored the clincher.
Kuyt's penalty came in the 32rd minute and it was still a horror-show for Mensah, who lost the flight of the ball, which allowed Spearing to run behind him and clear on goal.
Mensah then clumsily brought down the Liverpool midfielder, but replays showed that the assistant was wrong to convince the referee to change his initial opinion that it was outside the box.
Still, all the significant chances in the match did fall to Liverpool. Suarez forced a great save from Mignolet with a half-volley five minutes after the opener, and Lee Cattermole, on early as a sub for Muntari, then cleared a Carroll header off the line in the 51st minute.
Mingolet pushed away another great effort from Spearing in the 74th minute just before Suarez sealed things three minutes later.
Suarez's impact didn't end there either, as he was pulled down by Mensah when a ball over the top sought him out in the 82nd minute. The referee gave Mensah a straight red-card, which looked a little harsh, although even a yellow would have seen Mensah off in any event as he had been booked for the foul that brought down Spearing for the penalty.
Mensah, along with Muntari and Asamoah Gyan, were part of the Ghana team that were controversially knocked out of last summer's World Cup by Uruguay in large part because of Suarez's now infamous handball on the line that denied a winning goal.
No doubt all would have been determined to get revenge over the Liverpool striker; instead, they have been handed a whole new set of reasons to curse the former Ajax man.
Comment 206 - 225 of 225
i am liverpool fan and i will forever be,no matter what they say we never walk alone.
Nicholas, I think you need to get a grip as I think you and a lot of the others on this link are hypocrites and heres why. In you're post aimed at ianhamilton stating "ian hamilton I smell a smelly Manc f.off onto your own page c**t" I think that you and the other hypocrites like you need to take notice of you're own advice and stick to you're own pages instead of filling other peoples pages with useless, bigoted, insulting drivel. It may true that he is as you so call it "a smelly Manc" but then if that is case he has every right to call you and others like you "scouse scum" and tell you to f**k off back to you're own pages which you will not do because you and the others like are just bigoted hypocrites not true Liverpool or football fans. before you gat on you're high horse I'm a Liverpool fan myself
I did not see Bruce complain last season re the ball which gave them a goal, what a plonker he is even when he was at Man Utd. You win some and Sunday you last to the better side.
Suarez the E.P.L.s new Ronaldo
Saurez is the best signing any PL side has made the whole of this season. Chelsea must be gutted they didn't sign him instead of Torres.
So nobody disagree's that Suarez is the best player in the league, I thought not!!!!!
a fed fan......... i dont actually see his comments as negative, what do you expect with a name like kevin.... they're just f.ckin borin
Sean. I think all LFC fans can take all these negative comments as flattery, LFC are on their way back & that's what's getting at them.. Next year maybe try for a champions league spot.. Just hope this summer will buy some decent signings..
kevin k........ you are a borin f.cker, arnt you?
Jay Spearing...mentored by Gerrard? Seems so... full speed towards the penalty area, clever entanglement of trailing leg, contorted face to accompany the dramatic fall, and, then...the nauseous, pedantic screaming for the penalty, classic Stevie Starfish trademarks. Shame, great prospect.
Well, well, well,Apparently, 12 people are refusing to be honest with themselves.
However did Suarez score that goal ! Sunderland fans, all I'm going to say is beachball.. Enough said.. Compensation yesterday for the dreadful decision last season. You really can't have it all your own way..
ianhamlton, think your being a little harsh on carroll. He will never be a £35 million player. But he has not played in 3 months and then starts in a new team and in europe. It is all new and will need time to adjust. He caused problem for sunderland. Winning important free kicks and very unlucky with the cleared header off the line. He was sluggish and his touches were not great but it will come. But slate carroll all you want he has done more in the 2 games he has played in than torres has done in 7 games, plus suarez. Get in some wingers and we will be challenging again. YNWA.
ian hamilton I smell a smelly Manc f.off onto your own page c**t
Carroll had a good header cleared off the line and is not fully fit yet, when he is Liverpool will be untouchable, we will win the title next season with quality widemen with pace and a left-back!!!!!. Gerrard and Kelly didn't even play and we strolled it, Jay Spearing is coming of age quickly and was superb......great times ahead with a full strength Liverpool and KK and Clarke in charge!!!!!...J W Henry we thank you...
Name a better player than Suarez in English football.........????????
Suarez looks like a good player for the money. Carol?????????? Must be the most overrated over priced player in history of prem league. He was rubbish. He is tall and he will win headers but thats it. Liverpool need workers in the team, Carol gave the ball away and just strolled around as if he was having a jog in the park. What a dumplin!
your a silly boy wayne ker papa smurf plays for man city yawa
yes suarez was awesome . but dont forget carra and jay ] smurf ] spearing they had good game too
our new club nickname is penaltypool come on penaltypool yawa
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