Rafa Benitez made just one change to the side that drew at Middlesbrough last week with Djibril Cisse replacing Luis Garcia as the Reds looked to open their home campaign with a win. But they found it far from easy against a Sunderland who, particularly in the first half, caused them plenty of problems.
Liverpool were almost ahead as early as the 3rd minute when Gerrard's inswinging cross rebounded off the Sunderland post. And from the resulting corner, Morientes flashed a free header narrowly wide.
The Reds missed an even better opportunity when Cisse stabbed a shot wide after 18 minutes. But Anfield's full house didn't have to wait long for a breakthough and what a goal it was.
Zenden's direct running caused panic in the Sunderland defence and when he was fouled, Alonso stepped up and curled a superb free kick into the top corner.
Any thoughts that a rout would follow were soon dispelled by Sunderland, who played with plenty of spirit and caused the Reds no end of problems.
And they will have left cursing their inability to convert a number of promising chances.
Liverpool almost had what would have been a controversial second after 50 minutes when Stubbs went down under a challenge from Gerrard. Referee Knight failed to see the incident and Cisse was in no mood to kick the ball out, but a diplomatic incident was averted when Cisse fired his shot over.
The Reds were dealt a blow soon after when their inspirational skipper Steven Gerrard was forced off injured and replaced by Luis
Garcia.
Any concerns over Gerrard's departure were almost quickly erased when Cisse found himself through on goal, but he fired his blistering half volley just wide.
Sunderland's task was made considerably harder when they were reduced to ten men for the last 15 minutes after Welsh was sent off for pushing Garcia. But their ten men continued to worry Liverpool until the final whistle. They wont go down if they can play like this every week.
As for Liverpool, they will be hugely relieved to have won and Rafa will have taken some positives from this match. Not least the continued emergence of Momo Sissoko, who was man of the match.
Direct paste from Liverpool FC site - they seem to think we did ok !
==========================================
The bit in bold made me smile.
