Reds rebirth under Kenny Dalglish

“From where we are, I couldn’t honestly tell you, but if we have got a fortuitous one, then we have got a fortuitous decision in that instance. Overall, it was a great effort from our players,” KENNY DALGLISH gives his honest assessment of Liverpool’s penalty.

“I have got no complaints about the result – it might not have affected the result, the way we played today. However, that was a really big, key decision for somebody 80 yards away,” STEVE BRUCE has a slightly different opinion.

DEEP into stoppage time at the Stadium of Light yesterday Kenny Dalglish went to trap the ball inside his technical area, but to ironic cheers from the travelling Kop it squirmed away from him.

It was the only time Liverpool put a foot wrong all afternoon.

The Reds heeded the manager's call not to dwell on their dismal European exit as they kick-started their push for fifth spot in style.

Unrecognisable from the dour stalemate with Braga three days earlier, Liverpool cruised to a sixth league win in their last eight games. The Dalglish Revolution is back on track.

With Tottenham now only four points better off, hope springs eternal in the bid to avoid a first campaign with continental competition since 1999/2000.

Of course the Reds got a helping hand with the controversial decision to award a spot-kick when Jay Spearing was chopped down just outside the box in the first half. But Steve Bruce's bleating cut no ice.

“These things happen in football,” was the Sunderland boss' blunt response to the infamous beach ball goal which defeated Liverpool in this fixture last season.

Strangely, this time he wasn't quite so philosophical after being on the wrong end of a refereeing error.

Having been left with a burning sense of injustice on their last visit, nobody among the visiting contingent was about to offer any sympathy to the hosts.

In truth Liverpool were building up a head of steam prior to Dirk Kuyt's penalty and went on to dominate the second half.

Luis Suarez's stunning individual strike wrapped up the points but the scoreline flattered the Black Cats who were comprehensively outclassed. Their misery was compounded by the dismissal of John Mensah late on.

Liverpool shone in all departments. The return of Daniel Agger at the back after four games out with a knee injury was timely.

Oozing confidence in possession, Agger gets those around him playing and the Reds are always a better side with the Dane in it.

Asamoah Gyan barely had a kick all afternoon with Pepe Reina reduced to the role of spectator for long periods.

In midfield Spearing continued his rapid improvement under the watchful eye of Dalglish.

This was only his second league start of an injury-disrupted season but there will surely be more to follow.

Always wanting the ball and using it intelligently, Spearing combined well with Lucas Leiva to give Liverpool control in the centre of the park. The 22-year-old just needs to believe he's good enough to hold his own at this level.

Only a fine finger tip save from Simon Mignolet denied the Academy graduate what would have been a richly deserved first senior goal for the Reds.

Up front Liverpool wreaked havoc to put Sunderland to the sword. This was the first time Dalglish has partnered his £57million strikeforce of Suarez and Andy Carroll together from the start.

There were moments when it showed. That telepathic type of understanding is going to take time to develop but there were signs that their double act can live up to the hype.

There's no question they complement each other well with Suarez dropping off into space and capitalising on the big man's aerial ability.

Carroll is clearly lacking sharpness after two and a half months out and needs matches.

But Liverpool used him more sensibly yesterday than they did against Braga.

Rather than persist with pumping aimless long balls vaguely in his direction, they looked to get him into dangerous areas and gave him the chance to prove he can do more than just flick it on.

Carroll put a real shift in and was running on empty when he came off yesterday.

Dalglish can only hope England boss Fabio Capello doesn't demand too much from the striker and damage the club's carefully constructed rehabilitation programme.

This was the first Reds game John W Henry has watched outside Merseyside and he was rightly glowing in his assessment.

The principal owner wouldn't discuss Dalglish's position but there is little debate to be had. It's merely a question of when not if the King is returned to his throne on a permanent basis.

Kuyt had twice gone close before Liverpool secured the breakthrough in the 33rd minute yesterday. Spearing pounced on Mensah's poor control and the defender compounded the error by hacking him down.

After initially giving a free-kick, referee Kevin Friend was convinced by his assistant the offence had taken place inside the box.

After the protests Kuyt held his nerve to score his 10th goal of the season. Remarkably, he became the first Liverpool player other than Fernando Torres to score an away league goal before the 40th minute of a game since Steven Gerrard at West Brom way back in May 2009.

New dad Lucas took centre stage in the celebrations as his team-mates saluted the birth of the Brazilian's son Pedro.

Only a smart stop from Mignolet prevented Suarez from doubling the Reds' tally before the break.

The second half was one-way traffic with Carroll appearing destined to open his account with a bullet header only for Lee Cattermole to clear off the line.

Mignolet kept Sunderland in the game as he diverted Spearing's 20-yarder past the post but the pressure finally told.

It was fitting that the contest's outstanding performer killed off the Black Cats.

Suarez reproduced the scintillating form he showed against Manchester United a fortnight earlier, buzzing around the penalty box and taking out his frustration at having to sit and watch the Reds toil in Europe.

With 13 minutes to go Suarez latched on to Kuyt's throw and from the tightest of angle lashed an unstoppable shot inside Mignolet's near post.

According to Gyan, Suarez is the most hated man in Ghana after his deliberate handball in last summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.

But the striker can rest easy in the knowledge he has no shortage of admirers on Merseyside.

Once again Suarez had the last laugh and Liverpool's season remains alive and kicking.

SUNDERLAND (4-5-1): Mignolet, Ferdinand, Bramble, Mensah, Bardsley, Sessegnon, Henderson, Muntari (Cattermole 19), Richardson (Malbranque 22) Welbeck (Elmohamady 60), Gyan Not used: Gordon, Zenden, Colback, Onuoha.

LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Johnson, Meireles (Rodriguez 84), Lucas, Spearing, Kuyt, Carroll (Ngog 72), Suarez (Cole 89). . Not used: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Poulsen, Wilson

GOALS: Kuyt (33), Suarez (77).

CARDS: Sunderland: Mensah, Bramble, Cattermole. Liverpool: Lucas, Saurez, Kuyt.

SENT OFF: Mensah (Sunderland

REFEREE: Kevin Friend

ATTENDANCE: 47,207

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