Saturday August 13, 2011 Day 1 Finished Anfield

Liverpool 1 - 1 Sunderland

  • Suarez 12’
  • Larsson 57’

  1. Sunderland nick draw as Liverpool fade

    Sunderland nick draw as Liverpool fade

    Sunderland held Liverpool to a 1-1 draw in a Premier League season opener at Anfield that saw the home side fade badly after a strong start. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Liverpool
    • Sunderland
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+4 Full time, a bore draw even if the goals were decent. What do you think about that performance, particularly from Liverpool? Tweet me!
    • 90+3 Lucas wide to Downing, great touch, inside and out and a hanging ball but Mignolet claims well.
    • 90+3 The break is on as Sessegnon races through, he has Cattermole who could be in but he blasts over! Liverpool got men back in the end.
    • 90+2 Long ball for Carroll, whose flick on is too heavy for Kuyt. This has been a poor, poor half from Liverpool.
    • 90+1 Wasteful ball from Enrique, long into the area with no target. Four minutes added on.
    • 90' Liverpool break, Downing on the right, he cuts inside but the cross is cleared. Sunderland have everyone back...
    • 89' Kuyt is bleeding from the back of his head but gets a fetching headband so he can complete the match.
    • 88' Cattermole and Brown collide, Kuyt is down and Cattermole calls for attention... Brown headed the ball but nutted Kuyt in the process.
    • 87' Carroll puts another header wide after being found unmarked! His radar has been askew today.
    • 85' High ball in from Adam is claimed by Mignolet as Carroll flies in. Again good defending from Brown.
    • 84' Golly this really has become a grind. Long balls from both sides. Where has Liverpool's mojo gone?
    • 82' Downing on the right with a low cross he scuffs towards Brown. Cleared upfield.
    • 81' Downing is playing more like a forward now as he chases Richardson down, the left-back heading out for a throw.
    • 81' SUNDERLAND SUB: Goal-scorer Larsson comes off for fellow new signing Vaughan.
    • 80' Agger is furious after being penalised for a foul on Sessegnon, hurling the ball away in disgust. Booking.
    • 79' Brown is caught a bit late by Downing. No card.
    • 78' Larsson enters the book now.
    • 77' Excellent defending from Brown to rob Carroll and draw a foul. My man of the match so far.
    • 76' Very dodgy shouts for a pen from Sunderland fans as Flanagan clearly collects it on his side before clearing.
    • 75' LIVERPOOL SUB: Suarez has faded badly after a good start and Meireles comes on in his place. Back to 4-4-2 then.
    • 74' Flung in by Downing and Agger far post but he scuffs it sliding in and Mignolet gathers!
    • 73' Carroll spanks one just wide after a nice touch on the edge of the box. Deflected off Brown, corner!
    • 72' Lucas fouls Colback. Taken short, Elmohammady crosses but headed clear.
    • 71' Kuyt is shaking his head as he is booked for handball, I think. Either that or arguing.
    • 70' Possession is slightly weighted towards Liverpool, 53%-47%.
    • 69' Sunderland are having a go now - this is a very different team to the one that fell to pieces at the end of last season.
    • 68' Kuyt races on to a long ball but Mignolet gets there first. Just.
    • 67' Free-kick Sunderland then but Larsson swings it well over. Dong, by the way, is a 20-year-old South Korean, 6'2" and with six goals in 11 games for his country.
    • 66' SUNDERLAND SUB: Dong is on for his debut, Gyan can't carry on.
    • 65' Adam is booked for bundling Cattermole over - cumulative offences I assume as not a particularly bad one.
    • 64' Injury to Gyan, holding his ankle it seems...
    • 63' Sessegnon mis-hits a cross out for a goal kick. Reina is angry he was given the chance.
    • - Charlie M - I wouldn't be surprised. I blame Broken Britain.
    • 62' Kuyt's presence immediately causes problems as he wins a corner. Adam sends it far post TO CARROLL WITH THE HEADER BUT BATTED OUT BY THE KEEPER! Enrique with another cross in but Carroll this time sends it well over.
    • 61' LIVERPOOL SUB: Kuyt comes on for Henderson. Not an amazing debut for the ex-Sunderland man, who is clapped by both sets of fans.
    • 60' Liverpool have retreated into their shell a but this half. Brown clears from Suare.
    • 59' Henderson picks up a booking on his debut as Kenny prepares to bring Dirk Kuyt on.
    • 58' Well Liverpool have dominated this game and it's level pegging. Let's see if they can squeeze some more out of Suarez, who' gone quiet this half.
    • 57' Well. Hard to say that's deserved but a fine, fine goal from the new signing.
    • 56' GOAL! 1-1: And what a goal from Sebastian Larsson on his debut! Incredible flying volley at the far post to angle it home! Brilliant right-wing cross from ElMohammady too!
    • 55' Another good ball in, low from Suarez again on the left, but Brown gets there before Carroll to sweep it behind. Downing puts the corner in but Carroll heads it wide again.
    • 54' Now Carroll attacks a ball from the left but he heads wide. Well wide in the end.
    • 53' Good cross from the left and Gyan attacks with a header but straight at Reina! Either side and it was in! How did he beat Agger to that? Suspect from the Dane.
    • 52' Larsson swings it in but Lucas - with three Sunderland men around him - manages to head it clear.
    • 51' Adam with a clumsy, late block on Brown. Somehow escapes a booking. Larsson on the right...
    • 50' Good cross from Richardson but Enrique - who has been very solid so far - coolly chests it back to Reina.
    • 49' Good defending from Ferdinand as Carroll bustled into the box. Out for a throw.
    • 48' Apologies if you are having problems navigating the website - our technical staff are on it. No, I have no idea what they're doing.
    • 47' Richardson has a pop now but well over.
    • 46' Suarez with a cross in that appears to bounce up on to Brown's arm but no way was that deliberate.
    • 46' Second half underway at Anfield.
    • - IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING ALL THE GAMES ON THE LIVE MULTIPLEX, PLEASE PRESS F5 TO GET THE UP-TO-DATE COMMENTS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS AS WE ARE SUFFERING WITH TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ON THE AUTO REFRESH FUNCTION
    • - Our mate OptaJoe has a nugget for us: "Luis Suárez is the first player to fail to score with a penalty at Anfield in the PL since Gerrard vs Fulham in Dec 06. Spurned" Follow him on Twitter!
    • 45+2 Half time and Liverpool lead through a goal from Suarez, who also missed a penalty.
    • 45+2 Adam now commits a foul as the half ends scrappily.
    • 45+1 Two minutes added time being played. Long clearace from Enrique. Carroll wins a free-kick off it, Bardsley booked for it but it was Ferdinand who shoved him. Deary me.
    • 45' Late and high from Carragher on Gyan... and it's a yellow card for the Reds skipper.
    • 44' Downing takes and he drills it flat and angled to the penalty spot where Carroll meets it but his header is off target.
    • 44' Great touch Suarez on the left but an even better slide in from Brown. Corner.
    • 43' Super ball from Larsson, total havoc as Sessegnon and I think Ferdinand fly in, Reina flaps wildly and it bounces beyond the pair and just wide! Unconvincing from Reina.
    • 42' Now Sunderland have a free-kick after a clumsy one from Lucas on Sessegnon. On the right, 30 yards out, Larsson over it.
    • 41' Liverpool on the ball now, Adam pulling the strings mostly from 30-40 yards...
    • 40' Good cross from Elmohammady, Gyan too small to meet though. Cattermole has it but his shot into the ground is weak and cleared.
    • 39' Good clearance from Carragher to touch. Throw on the left, Richardson to take...
    • 38' Liverpool swarm forward, Lucas on it, Carroll is spare but the Brazilian elects to shoot and drags it wide.
    • 36' Elmohammady has a run but it stood up by Enrique.
    • 35' Flanagan and Larsson collide... No card for the Liverpool defender, who was late. He's in for Johnson, by the way.
    • 34' Liverpool's debutants have fared well so far, it has to be said. It's all about the Premier League and Kenny has bought players who know how to play well in this division.
    • 33' DOWNING HITS THE BAR! Great solo run inside from Downing, beating a few men as he cuts in from the right before smacking a vicious drive off the woodwork.
    • 32' A foul says the ref Phil Dowd. Didn't see it so can't pass comment.
    • 31' Lucas loses the ball and Sessegnon races clear but play is pulled back...
    • 30' Good defending by Enrique to clear. Cheers from the home fans.
    • 28' Gyan holds it up for Sessegnon, who drills in a low shot that is easy for Reina.
    • 27' Cattermole gives Suarez a tickle and it's a yellow card.
    • 26' Bardsley aims a cross for Gyan but it's aimless and easy for Reina.
    • 25' Adam's ambitious through ball is intercepted by Brown. He doesn't look fazed by playing at Anfield, not one bit.
    • 24' Cattermole brilliantly robs Adam on the edge of the box, Sessegnon slips it to Gyan but he lazily curls a half-baked shot miles wide! That was poor from Gyan.
    • 23' Adam tries a shot from about 40 yards but, while the contact is sweet, Mignolet keeps his eye on the swerving ball and holds on.
    • 22' Good low cross from ElMohammady but hacked away by Agger.
    • 21' GOAL! 1-0 Liverpool: Adam to ping this one in, about 40 yards out to the left... Headed clear but Downing keeps it in for Adam, great ball over for Carroll who kills it with a touch off the chest and lashes in the finish! But no! Disallowed for a shove on Ferdinand.
    • 20' Suarez wins a free-kick off Ferdinand. A shove and a word from the ref.
    • 19' Suarez combines nicely with Downing but hooked away by Bardsley. I like how Carroll is holding the ball up, crisp touches first-time usually...
    • 18' Larsson, on the left, finds Gyan but the Ghanaian's nice skill does not fool Flanagan who clears. Good defending down the other end as Brown gets it away from Downing and back to Mignolet.
    • 17' Suarez tumbles on the edge of the box but I think he slipped. Sunderland can counter...
    • 16' Liverpool are holding on to the ball nicely now, short pass and move...
    • 15' Almost a nice attack as Suarez and Carroll linked up. Adam picks it up though, playing medium-deep, not as withdrawn as Alonso used to but less focal than Gerrard. And, given he packs a few pounds, one could call him the Scottish Riquelme...
    • 14' ElMohammady has a pop from range but low and well wide.
    • 13' That initially looked like it went straight through and Mignolet mis-fielded it, but you see this wicked touch from Suarez that changes the angle of the ball at the death, with that pace no chance for the keeper. It hit his thigh en route to the goal.
    • 12' GOAL LIVERPOOL! SUAREZ! Great flicked header, escaping the marking brilliantly with a shuffle off the wall, and he knocks it in off Mignolet! Super delivery, flat and bullet-like, from Charlie Adam.
    • 12' Brown shoves Suarez and Liverpool have a free-kick centre-right, 25-odd yards out.
    • 11' Sunderland on the attack now but Agger heads Richardson's cross away. Now Adam with great touch and pass wide to Flanagan but his cross is just over Carroll's head. Now Henderson puts one in but it spins away to safety...
    • 10' Nice passing move from Liverpool but it comes at Suarez too quickly and out for a throw.
    • 9' Carroll holds it up for Downing but he miscontrols under pressure from Brown and Bardsley knocks it out for a throw.
    • 8' Now Sunderland have a free-kick on the right but the ball in from Larsson is terrible, out for a goal kick.
    • 7' AND SUAREZ BLASTS IT OVER! WADDLE! Terrible penalty from Suarez. Possible justice as Richardson's nudge on the Uruguayan did not merit what was a theatrical delayed tumble.
    • 6' Yellow card! It's decided that he was not a last-man situation as Mignolet had forced Suarez wide..
    • 5' Suarez blocks a Richardson clearance and he races clean through on goal, he's in and he rounds the keeper but Richardson chasing back clips him and it's a penalty! What colour the card...
    • 4' Another corner to Sunderland as former Newcastle left-back Enrique clears to touch.
    • 3' Good DM play from Cattermole to rob Downing, shrug off his challenge and take it to safety, winning a free kick too.
    • 2' Corner to Sunderland on the right... Good ball in that Brown meets but his flick is well held by Reina.
    • 1' Suarez with a mazy dribble down the left but he can't get the cross in.
    • 1' The first half is underway at Anfield!
    • 14:55 Sunderland in light blue as the home fans sing YNWA from the all-red terraces.
    • 14:50 Hello. Fresh from covering Rangers' controversial 2-0 win at Inverness, I will be describing Liverpool's Premier League season-opener against Sunderland. What do you think of Kenny's summer signings? And what do you think of the decision to bench Raul Meireles, who in my opinion is a great player. You can engage with me on Twitter by clicking here.
    • 14:45 Both of these clubs have significant moves in the transfer market this summer, with Sunderland's coffers swelled by the £20m sale of Jordan Henderson to Liverpool. Check out who both clubs have brought in this summer with our club-by-club breakdown. Premier League transfer table
    • 14:40 What's that? You want to see a picture of that infamous 'Beachball' goal? Oh, go on then... 'Beach ball' image wins top prize
    • 14:35 HEAD-TO-HEAD: Liverpool and Sunderland also met on the first day of the 2008-09 season, Liverpool winning 1-0 at The Stadium of Light with a Fernando Torres (83’) goal. Liverpool are unbeaten in their three league games against Sunderland. Their only defeat in the last 10 was 1-0 at The Stadium of Light in October 2009 when Darren Bent scored the infamous ‘Beachball' goal. Sunderland have not won in their last 12 league visits to Anfield. (Infostrada)
    • 14:30 Sunderland start life without Henderson in their team by fielding their own midfield summer signing, Sebastian Larsson, against their former player. Asamoah Gyan starts as the lone front man, while Simon Mignolet gets the nod in goal. Sunderland team page
    • 14:25 Liverpool boast all three of their midfield summer signings for the kick-off, with Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson all starting. But perhaps the biggest surprise is that left-back Jose Enrique, signed from Newcastle yesterday, also makes his debut for the Reds. Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll also feature in Liverpool's expensively-assembled side. Liverpool team page
    • 14:20 LIVERPOOL: Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Adam, Henderson, Suarez, Downing, Carroll. Subs: Doni, Meireles, Kuyt, Spearing, Ngog, Kelly, Robinson /// SUNDERLAND: Mignolet, Bardsley, Brown, Ferdinand, Richardson, Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, Elmohamady, Sessegnon, Gyan. Subs: Westwood, Gardner, Wickham, Vaughan, Ji, Bramble, Laing.
    • 14:15 Welcome to Eurosport-Yahoo!'s live coverage of the Liverpool v Sunderland at Anfield as the Premier League season gets underway!

  • Summary

    • 90+3 The break is on as Sessegnon races through, he has Cattermole who could be in but he blasts over! Liverpool got men back in the end.
    • 87' Carroll puts another header wide after being found unmarked! His radar has been askew today.
    • 74' Flung in by Downing and Agger far post but he scuffs it sliding in and Mignolet gathers!
    • 62' Kuyt's presence immediately causes problems as he wins a corner. Adam sends it far post TO CARROLL WITH THE HEADER BUT BATTED OUT BY THE KEEPER! Enrique with another cross in but Carroll this time sends it well over.
    • 56' GOAL! 1-1: And what a goal from Sebastian Larsson on his debut! Incredible flying volley at the far post to angle it home! Brilliant right-wing cross from ElMohammady too!
    • 53' Good cross from the left and Gyan attacks with a header but straight at Reina! Either side and it was in! How did he beat Agger to that? Suspect from the Dane.
    • - IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING ALL THE GAMES ON THE LIVE MULTIPLEX, PLEASE PRESS F5 TO GET THE UP-TO-DATE COMMENTS FROM AROUND THE GROUNDS AS WE ARE SUFFERING WITH TECHNICAL PROBLEMS ON THE AUTO REFRESH FUNCTION
    • 43' Super ball from Larsson, total havoc as Sessegnon and I think Ferdinand fly in, Reina flaps wildly and it bounces beyond the pair and just wide! Unconvincing from Reina.
    • 33' DOWNING HITS THE BAR! Great solo run inside from Downing, beating a few men as he cuts in from the right before smacking a vicious drive off the woodwork.
    • 24' Cattermole brilliantly robs Adam on the edge of the box, Sessegnon slips it to Gyan but he lazily curls a half-baked shot miles wide! That was poor from Gyan.
    • 23' Adam tries a shot from about 40 yards but, while the contact is sweet, Mignolet keeps his eye on the swerving ball and holds on.
    • 21' GOAL! 1-0 Liverpool: Adam to ping this one in, about 40 yards out to the left... Headed clear but Downing keeps it in for Adam, great ball over for Carroll who kills it with a touch off the chest and lashes in the finish! But no! Disallowed for a shove on Ferdinand.
    • 12' GOAL LIVERPOOL! SUAREZ! Great flicked header, escaping the marking brilliantly with a shuffle off the wall, and he knocks it in off Mignolet! Super delivery, flat and bullet-like, from Charlie Adam.
    • 7' AND SUAREZ BLASTS IT OVER! WADDLE! Terrible penalty from Suarez. Possible justice as Richardson's nudge on the Uruguayan did not merit what was a theatrical delayed tumble.
    • 5' Suarez blocks a Richardson clearance and he races clean through on goal, he's in and he rounds the keeper but Richardson chasing back clips him and it's a penalty! What colour the card...
    • 14:20 LIVERPOOL: Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Adam, Henderson, Suarez, Downing, Carroll. Subs: Doni, Meireles, Kuyt, Spearing, Ngog, Kelly, Robinson /// SUNDERLAND: Mignolet, Bardsley, Brown, Ferdinand, Richardson, Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, Elmohamady, Sessegnon, Gyan. Subs: Westwood, Gardner, Wickham, Vaughan, Ji, Bramble, Laing.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.5 -
      Defenders
      10 -
      Yellow Card 8.3 -
      8 -
      9 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 7.3 -
      Yellow Card Substitution Out61′ 6.9 -
      6.4 -
      8.7 -
      Strikers
      Goal Substitution Out75′ 8.2 -
      7.8 -
      Subs
      Substitution In75′ 7.3 -
      Substitution In61′ Yellow Card 7.7 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      4 -
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 10 -
      7.8 -
      6 -
      Yellow Card 2 -
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 4 -
      2 -
      Goal Yellow Card Substitution Out81′ 6 -
      3.7 -
      5.8 -
      Strikers
      Substitution Out66′ 4.2 -
      Subs
      Substitution In81′ 3 -
      Substitution In66′ 2.3 -