Football: Liverpool Update

Liverpool 1 Sunderland 1

A day of great expectation ended in anticlimax for Liverpool supporters as Steve Bruce's Sunderland played the role of party poopers at Anfield, changing the course of an afternoon that had threatened to be all about Luis Suarez. This was supposed to be the stage for Kenny Dalglish's men to show the potential of the new era at Liverpool with a goalfest, justifying the serious spending this summer and sending out a message of intent to the rest of the clubs fighting for a spot in the top four. Unfortunately, no one sent Sunderland the script.

While the result will have disappointed the pumped up crowd of 45,000 at Anfield, there were plenty of positives to take from a vibrant performance. With Suarez and Andy Carroll paired together up front and a creative midfield featuring Stewart Downing, Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson, Dalglish came through on his promise of attacking football. Liverpool looked composed in possession and as this team gels, the performances will improve.

It did not take long for Sunderland to live dangerously. Suarez's work-rate is admirable and a nightmare for defences, as Kieran Richardson found out to his cost after just five minutes. The Uruguayan charged down a clearance from the Black Cats full-back, raced onto the loose ball and rounded keeper Simon Mignolet before being bundled to the ground by Richardson - a penalty and a yellow card. On another day, he could well have seen red.

But Suarez let Sunderland off the hook, skying his spot kick to his obvious dismay. If the setback rocked the striker, he did not show it when presented with another chance six minutes later. Adam's free-kick was whipped in with pace and Suarez made the perfect run, heading the ball home at the near post.

Anfield waited for the floodgates to open, urging their team forward. Downing smashed a rasping drive against the bar while Wes Brown had to be at his best to prevent Carroll and Suarez from extending the lead. Sunderland made it to the break without further damage but it had unquestionably been Liverpool's half.

The next 45 minutes was a different story. Re-energised by Bruce, the Black Cats gradually gained a foothold in midfield. Towards the back end of last season, Sunderland might have folded after conceding an early goal but, having weathered the storm, this new look team hit back.

Just before the hour mark, Ahmed Elmohamady - who completed a permanent move to the Stadium of Light this summer after a solid loan spell - provided a peach of a cross, finding Sebastian Larsson lurking at the back post. The Swede showed great technique to volley an equaliser past Jose Reina and silence Anfield.

Liverpool were visibly tiring but managed to craft a few more chances, with Mignolet making one smart stop and Brown, who will prove a bargain buy if he stays fit - stepping in with a timely block on substitute Dirk Kuyt. Sunderland might have stolen the points themselves - and to their credit did not sit on the point - but ultimately a share of the spoils was the fairest outcome.

It is hard to judge too much from an opening fixture but both sides seem primed for memorable campaigns. The goals did not come for Liverpool today but the supply lines are good enough to maximise the talents of Suarez and Carroll, ensuring that plenty of wins await. Sunderland, meanwhile, showed real backbone and with John O'Shea still to return from injury, Bruce's men should be aiming as high as 7th or 8th.