LIVERPOOL 2-1 SUNDERLAND: GERRARD & STURRIDGE KEEP TITLE PUSH ALIVE

Liverpool beat Sunderland 2-1 at Anfield to move back up to second in the Premier League table.

The Black Cats' massed ranks had frustrated their hosts for the majority of the first half, but Steven Gerrard struck a fine free kick into the top corner to open the scoring.

The Reds were incensed that Santiago Vergini only received a yellow card for bringing down Luis Suarez after giving away the free kick, and the Argentine was even luckier to stay on the field shortly afterwards when he slid in on Suarez again.

Daniel Sturridge doubled the advantage three minutes after the break with a shot from 18 yards out which deflected in off Wes Brown.

Lee Cattermole struck the crossbar and Sturridge did likewise at the other end, but the Black Cats were given a lifeline when Ki Sung-Yeung headed home at the far post with 14 minutes remaining.

Anfield was a bag of nerves in the final moments but the hosts managed to hold on despite increasing Sunderland pressure.

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John Aldridge believes that the current Liverpool strike pairing of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge is amongst the best in the club’s history.

He told the Liverpool Echo that the pair may even be the best already, based on their form over the season so far.

“Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have to be ranked right up there with the best strike partnerships in Liverpool’s illustrious history,” Aldridge opened.

“We’ve had some fantastic pairings over the years. Hunt and St John, Keegan and Toshack, Dalglish and Rush, Beardsley and myself, Fowler and Collymore – there has been a long line of great double acts going back decades.

“It’s still early days for Suarez and Sturridge but I honestly believe they already deserve to be mentioned alongside those names and they may already be the best.

“Their record speaks for itself. It’s there in black and white.

“They have scored 50 goals between them in 55 appearances this season. They are so exciting to watch.

“Suarez is nailed on for the Golden Boot and he has more assists than anyone in the league.”

The pair combined to lethal effect in the side’s last game, with Suarez scoring a hat trick and Sturridge adding one more to help the side to a 6-3 win over Cardiff.

“Suarez took his hat-trick brilliantly and Sturridge also played his part in Saturday’s 6-3 thrashing of Cardiff,” continued Aldridge.

“The moment of the match for me was Sturridge’s sublime backheel for Suarez’s second.

“The understanding between them was bordering on telepathic. Suarez read it and sprinted into that area.

“It was phenomenal awareness from Sturridge – I really enjoyed that.

“Sturridge also showed his desire and hunger with the way he burst into the penalty box to tuck away Suarez’s cross.”