Liverpool take the three points and will be rightfully delighted with that, but the worry will be that it took a moment of individual brilliance to break the deadlock after they struggled to break Sunderland down.

90+3 Space opens up for Torres so he runs at the Sunderland defence, but then he leaves the ball behind and the opportunity is gone.

90+1 Arbeloa almost makes a huge mess of a high ball, but fortunately the ball skims off the back of his head when it could have gone anywhere.

90 Sunderland have three minutes of stoppage time in which to change this result.

88 A flowing move by Liverpool sets up Kuyt on the right side of the area, but for some reason he tries to pass when really he should have had a go. Sunderland get back to defend and the danger is cleared.

87 Reid swings in a cross from the left for Sunderland, and Reina is fouled as he comes out to claim it. Can the home side pull one back here? It looks unlikely at the moment.

84 Boy did Liverpool need that. Just as they were beginning to run out of ideas, a cracking strike has given them the goal they so desperately craved.

83 What a strike from Torres! Alonso plays an excellent ball through to the striker, who steadies himself in space and lashes it in from 20 yards out. Gordon was well positioned but still found himself beaten at the near post.

81 Alonso spots Gordon off his line and goes for goal from his own half! It gets the keeper scampering back but floats just over the bar. What a goal that would have been!

79 El Zhar is playing a much deeper role and seems to be giving support to Gerrard as a creative midfielder as opposed to playing behind Torres up front. His through ball for the Spaniard is just too long however, and he can't quite keep it in play.

77 Change of tactics from Benitez and it's the expensive new signing Keane who makes way. Nabil el Zhar comes on in his place in a somewhat surprising move from the Liverpool manager.

76 Dangerous cross into the area by Bardsley, but it's between two strikers and Reina comes out to take it well.

75 Gerrard swings in Liverpool's umpteenth corner, but it's one of the worst of the lot and is easily claimed by Gordon.

73 Massive opportunity wasted by Liverpool's strike pair as Kuyt's shot from the edge of the area is slightly deflected and forces Gordon into a reaction save. The rebound is just begging to be tapped in but Keane and Torres both go for it and end up getting in each other's way!

71 Grim challenge by Chimbonda, who puts his studs down the back of Benayoun's ankle. Liverpool have a free kick right on the edge of the area and Gerrard will fancy this.

70 Malbranque takes on Dossena, but it's not a wise move as he's easily stripped of the ball. So far it hasn't been the best debut for the former Fulham and Tottenham man.

69 The pressure continues to build on Sunderland and Gordon takes his time on another goalkick. At the moment it feels just like last season for Liverpool who often struggled to break down smaller teams in the league.

68 Diouf is fortunate to escape a booking for a late challenge on Gerrard just inside Sunderland's half. The Liverpool captain takes it quickly in an attempt to catch the home side's defence out, but it's too long and drifts out for a goalkick.

66 Liverpool earn a corner which Gerrard sends in. It's only half cleared and Jamie Carragher tries to get it back into the thick of things but Gordon snatches it out of the air.

65 Alonso is having a bit of a nightmare so far, and sends another attempted pass wide of its intended target.

63 Liverpool are taking control now but can they find a way through? Sunderland are setting up a wall of players on the edge of the area and the visitors are struggling to pass their way through.

61 Some lovely interplay among Alonso, Gerrard, Keane and then Torres puts the Spaniard in possession on the right hand side of the area, but his low cross is deflected and then cleared.

59 Gerrard is put into acres of space on the left side of Sunderland's area, but his shot is blocked by the retreating Collins. Play steams up to the other end where Murphy's shot is easily saved by Reina.

58 The game is hotting up now Diouf appeals for a free kick on the right hand side of Liverpool's area as he goes to ground under Hyypia's challenge, but the referee rules that it was fair.

56 Great save from Gordon as Benayoun gets a shot on target. Keane tries to get the ball back into the middle but Collins turns the ball behind for a corner.

54 What a chance for Sunderland as the industrious Reid gets in a low cross from the left which dribbles across Liverpool's area, only for Diouf to scuff the shot with his left foot. Big let-off for Liverpool!

52 Finally Gerrard is allowed some space on the edge of the area, but the midfielder produces a lame effort as he drags his shot wide.

51 It's been a slow start after the break and the Sunderland faithful are fairly muted. Their side defend in numbers as Liverpool press forward, and the hosts successfully hold the Merseysiders off.

50 A quick throw-in by Arbeloa ends up being a hospital pass for Gerrard, and the Liverpool skipper gives his defender a glare after the action ends in a goalkick.

48 Rick Parry looks the personification of boredom up in the director's box. It hasn't been the greatest of games but hopefully it will get better as this half wears on. Alonso's second pass is a shorter effort, but it also fails to find its mark.

47 Alonso's first contribution is a long pass which goes out for a goalkick. He clearly needs a bit of time to find his range.

46 One change for Liverpool at the break as Benitez brings on Xabi Alonso for Plessis, who had a largely anonymous game in the first half. Gerrard will surely benefit from a more assured presence next to him in the centre of midfield.

Just the one minute of added time and Sunderland will be the happier of the two sides at the break. They've given Liverpool some problems at the back and have the only shot on target of the game so far. It hasn't been as bad a game as that statistic might suggest, but Liverpool will need to make more of their possession if they're going to emerge from this game with the three points they expect.

45 Yossi Benayoun tries to slide a ball through to Keane but it's just beyond the Irishman and Gordon comes out to gather.

44 Good move from Sunderland down the right, but then Diouf swings in a pointless cross which flies straight down the throat of Reina.

42 This time it's Diouf who's back to clear the corner as Sunderland eye half-time. Their fans are still making plenty of noise as we close in on the break.

41 Dossena makes a typical forraging run down the left for Liverpool and earns them another corner as his cross is turned behind by a defender.

40 Torres tries to turn Collins on the edge of the Sunderland area but the defender is equal to the challenge and puts in a good sliding tackle.

39 Nosworthy bundles Keane over quite blatantly on the edge of the centre circle.

38 Good spell of pressure from Liverpool who are coming into this game more and more. The front men are getting into the action now as Gerrard begins to control the flow of the game.

36 This time it's Danny Collins who heads clear for Sunderland, but Liverpool have another corner. Again Gerrard delivers but again Nosworthy clears on the second attempt.

35 Gerrard swings in a corner for Liverpool which is cleared by Nosworthy. The visitors work it wide to Kuyt who puts in a good cross, and Liverpool have another corner.

32 The home side are clearly buoyed by the home support, but Liverpool have weathered a mini-storm here and are now claiming control with Gerrard and Damien Plessis gaining more of the possession.

28 Good spell of the game for Sunderland and most of their attacks are coming down the left hand side.

26 Diouf decides it's time for some showboating and runs a couple of rings with the ball. The crowd love it, but he doesn't advance Sunderland's position. A moment later though he's fed the ball on the left hand side, but his audacious attempt on goal from wide of the area floats over Reina's bar.

25 Robbie Keane gets a rare touch of the ball and earns Liverpool a corner. It's a dangerous delivery from Gerrard but Nyron Nosworthy is in the right place to head clear.

24 Arbeloa fouls Bardsley and the free kick is swung into the penalty area, but again Hyypia is the one clearing the danger. This time he gets a boot in the face for his troubles and earns a free kick of his own.

23 Again Hyypia heads clear as Reid sends in a cross, and this time Liverpool break forward. However Alvaro Arbeloa's attempted cross is easily gathered by Craig Gordon.

22 Bardsley sends in an early cross for Sunderland, but Hyypia is well positioned to clear the danger.

20 Steed Malbranque's long ball forward is cut out by Hyypia who has recovered after a shaky opening 15 minutes to the game.

18 Andy Reid breaks free down the left side as Sunderland break quickly, but there's little support as he approaches the Liverpool area and the defence close him down.

17 Gerrard gets frustrated and attempts a long-range drive, but two Sunderland players dive in to block the shot.

16 Sunderland's midfield have been very compact and are hustling well so far, allowing Liverpool no headway down the centre of the park.

15 Bizarre moment as Diouf tries to get past Hyypia, only for the veteran to rob him of the ball. But then the Senegal international is judged to have fouled Hyypia whilst lying stricken on the ground. Hyypia just ran over him and tripped in truth.

13 Great chance for Sunderland as Richardson steals the ball down the left and Diouf sends in the cross. Daryl Murphy rises well but doesn't get any real power behind the header, and Reina makes the save.

11 It's been a good start to the game so far with both sides showing great intent. As yet, no real chances to speak of though.

9 Twice Gerrard crosses from the right but twice it comes straight back to him, and the second time his control lets him down and he concedes a throw-in.

8 Fernando Torres gets into the action with a run down the right hand side, but Phil Bardsley dives in to put the ball out of play and halt the attack.

7 Diouf's cross proves harmless as there are no red and white shirts in the Liverpool penalty area, but Sunderland are creating much of the early pressure here.

5 An early mistake from Sami Hyypia sees him head the ball straight to El Hadji Diouf in Liverpool's penalty area, but as the striker goes to pull the trigger he's closed down by three Liverpool players.

4 Dirk Kuyt has started out on the right for Liverpool but a long searching ball in his direction from Gerrard is cut out.

2 Kieran Richardson is in on the action early here as he shoves Steven Gerrard off the ball, but an early shot from the home side floats harmlessly wide of Jose Reina's goal. Strong start from the Black Cats though.

1 We're underway at the Stadium of Light, which is full to the rafters. Sunderland kick off their new season and head straight into the Liverpool half, but soon lose the ball as it's hacked clear.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez unleashes his new strike pairing of Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres, but has left several key figures on the bench. Daniel Agger starts the game on the bench as Sami Hyppia partners Jamie Carragher at the back, while Xabi Alonso starts on the bench at the expense of Damien Plessis.

Sunderland boss Roy Keane includes four new signings for his side's opening game against Liverpool at the Stadium of Light. Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda, Steed Malbranque and El Hadji Diouf all make their Premier League bows for the Black Cats.