Torres' teaser - Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1

One moment of magic from Fernando Torres got Liverpool off the rack and took some pressure off his goal-shy strike partner Robbie Keane.

A stunning 25-yard drive from Spain's Euro 2008 hero with seven minutes left gave Liverpool a welcome three points after their inept showing at Standard Liege in their first Champions League game.

But an ineffectual Keane couldn't break his goal duck on a day when Liverpool again struggled to create chances.

When the Steven Gerrard-inspired visitors did turn the screw in the second half they were denied on several occasions by the brilliance of home keeper Craig Gordon.

But a wonderful piece of skill from the graceful Torres denied the battling Black Cats, who rocked the visitors with a stirring start. Torres raced on to a pass from substitute Xabi Alonso to blast a low drive beyond the helpless Gordon to score a goal that was fit to win any game.

And Alonso, whose Anfield future is clouded in uncertainty, insists this was a crucial victory for Liverpool as they seek to make ground on title favourites Chelsea and Manchester United.

Alonso said: "We are delighted and pleased that we have got the first three points. It's a big win for us. It's important to win the Premier League after so many years and we are focussed on that.

"After a poor game against Standard Liege it's important to get the points to regain confidence and we have to continue.

"It was a professional performance, probably not the best, but we knew it would be tough because they are a good team who signed good players."

Sunderland boss Roy Keane admitted that his side's sterling first-half effort had left them vulnerable to Torres' brilliant late strike.

Keane said: "I think that one brilliant moment from Torres made the difference. They knew they had been in a game in the first half, but we ran out of steam late on.

"The second he pulled the trigger I knew it was a goal. You have to take those things on the chin.

"But I think if we had taken one of our early chances we may have caught them out after their midweek European exertions.

"I'm delighted with the performance - generally speaking I thought the players did very well.

"It's a fine line at this level and we saw what Torres is capable of. When we played Liverpool last year I was hopeful of a result, today I was confident - that's progress.

"We showed we are a better team than we were a year ago."

Keane had former Liverpool striker El-Hadji Diouf, and the former Spurs trio of Steed Malbranque, Teemu Tainio and Pascal Chimbonda all making their Sunderland Premier League debuts.

And they didn't let their new boss down as they went at Liverpool right from the first whistle. The probing, pacy runs of both Diouf and Kieran Richardson regularly exposed gaps in the Liverpool rearguard in a pulsating first half.

Pepe Reina, Liverpool's hero in Liege, had again to be at the top of his game to prevent Daryl Murphy heading Sunderland into the lead with the best chance of the first half.

Diouf latched on to a loose ball before whipping in a glorious cross that the leaping Murphy bulleted towards goal.

Fortunately for Liverpool Reina was well placed to gather at the second attempt.

Last August Liverpool coasted to a 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, but Sunderland's gutsy, determined start was evidence that Roy Keane's summer spending spree has made them more formidable opponents.

Malbranque looked classy on the ball and was the force behind much of the pressure that Sunderland created in an entertaining first half.

And the Black Cats defence didn't face any serious test until Gerrard fired in a free-kick on 33 minutes that was blocked.

Gerrard had taken a long time to get into the game, but as his influence grew so did Liverpool's.

And justice was done when Torres finally beat the brave Gordon on 83 minutes with his wonder strike.

HOW THEY RATED

SUNDERLAND

Gordon 8, Bardsley 6, Nosworthy 8, Collins 7, Chimbonda 6, Tainio 7 (Whitehead 6), Reid 6, Richardson 7, Murphy 7, Diouf 7, Malbranque 8.

Manager Keane 7

LIVERPOOL

Reina 8, Arbeloa 6, Carragher 7, Hyypia 8, Dossena 7, Kuyt 6, GERRARD 9, Plessis 5 (Alonso 8), Benayoun 7, Torres 6, Keane 6.

Manager Benitez 7

STORY OF THE GAME

SUND'LAND LIVERPOOL

40% POSSESSION 60%

3 SHOTS ON TARGET 3

3 SHOTS OFF TARGET 5

1 CORNERS 8

13 FOULS CONCEDED 12

2 OFFSIDES 0

0 YELLOW CARDS 2

0 RED CARDS 0

Referee A Wiley 8

MAN OF THE MATCH

STEVEN GERRARD

The Liverpool skipper lifted the visiting side with a composed, cultured display. The England star started slowly but got more influential as the game wore on.

NEXT FOUR IN THE PREM

SUNDERLAND

TOTTENHAM (A)

MAN CITY (H)

WIGAN (A)

MIDDLESBRO (H)

LIVERPOOL

MIDDLESBRO (H)

VILLA (A)

MAN U (H)

STOKE (H)

DIDYOU KNOW?

Sunderland's last home win over Liverpool was 2-1 in December 2002, with goals from Gavin McCann and Michael Proctor.