No penalties conceded, the first clean sheet duly arrives and upfront Liverpool find the net twice to get the second set of three points to amass seven out of the availabe nine points from the first three games.
Sunderland away from home is not the most glamorous of fixtures, and it is puzzling how such fixture has been given the importance of being played in the early afternoon. On second thoughts though, such early kick-off's are becoming the norm rather than the exception for Liverpool and the reds are yet to have a three p.m. kick-off. Still, as long Liverpool continue winning, such unconventional times will be well forgotten.
Facing a team managed by Roy Keane is never a stroll in the park but as expected Liverpool always had the upper hand and imposed themselves on the Black Cats. The first minute mark has not yet passed when Andriy Voronin was already pouncing on an erroneous back-pass and forcing their nine million keeper Craig Gordon coming off his line to thwart the Ukranian's shot and a dream start for Liverpool.
Momo Sissoko had a positive pre-season but he only had his first start yesterday. Having had a difficult second season, marred with injuries and uneasy comebacks, his future looked suspect for this Malian energy box. While maintaining his energy levels, his passing was wasteful and flawed to say the least and looked comfortable with a ball in his feet as much as an escapee under the glare of a big camera.
Yesterday he was completely different though, and gave a man of the match display which was the more welcomed with Steven Gerrard's absence. He fought for, and won every ball as usual, but also caressed the ball and even had the audacity to take on players and subsequently beat them. His first goal and Liverpool's 7,000th in the Premier League were the least both deserved. Rafael Benitez trust and faith in him never subsided and was publicly manifested with the offering of an extended contract in the Summer. Momo's vicious low shot was too much for their keeper and ensured a more comfortable team talk for the boss at half-time.
The second forty-five minutes didn't have the same almost explosive start as the first but soon Liverpool regained control again and the only worrying aspect was the inability to put the game to bed. Sunderland had a couple of attempts at Liverpool's goal but they were more hopeful ones rather than serious. In the meantime, along with Momo Sissoko's first we had the first time sight of Jamie Carragher wanting to get out of a football pitch as an unfortunate clash with Pepe Reina is suspected to have broken one of his ribs.
On the 87th minute, Andriy Voronin wrapped up the match by a well taken goal. The lad on a free ensured that three priceless points go Liverpool's way.

We used to say that a good ref is one that you don't really notice. Unfortunately that is another saying that football has lost. Referees now love to grab the limelight, and probably see themselves on par with the players plying their trade on the pitch. Graeme Poll has now retired, and it seems Rob Styles is very intent to take over his heirloom. I can take a bad decision, but today's penalty is beyond any comprehensibility. And don't give me the argument for video evidence either. You can never beat being present in the thick of the action, and Rob Styles was actually that - a couple of metres away from the accident. Rob Styles just wanted to be controversial. But he failed miserably there. He was just ridiculously absurd. He succeeded in taking the wind out of Liverpool sails though. I wouldn't say Liverpool were comfortably in command then but they were surely the better team out of the two. Rafael Benitez let him know what he thought of him in his post-match comments. Visibly fuming, he labelled the decision 'unbelievable' which has reduced his side's three points to one.
In the thick of this unjustice and anger at their first home match of the season, Rafael Benitez and his side have made a statement to both their fans and rivals. Liverpool are to be taken seriously,very seriously - there is an air of belief and Champions League qualification is not the realistic target. Liverpool want more. Again, the hunger was visible, the hard work felt and the belief tangible. Taking Riise off and putting Crouch on seven minutes from time with the tie level said it all. Chelsea for all their swagger were winding the clock down. Steven Gerrard was at his best again, covering every blade of the grass, pulling the midfield strings and putting it where it hurts without apologising. The nasty streak is there, the devil of a winner is inside him again and he is being feared.
Torres first goal at Anfield put a lot of weight out of his shoulders. In the process though he showed his class and has defenitely added more dimensions, possibilities and options for Liverpool. The Spaniard just accepted Gerrard's routine pass and rather than waiting for help he showed his heels to Haim, and perfectly placed the ball beyond Cech via the post. Haim was left for dead, and ridiculed as much as the unwritten law of common sense was by the man in black.
Psychologically, Liverpool has suffered a lot in the last season. The first away win was only grabbed in the first week of December. This year it arrived in the opening match. The ice has already been broken and with Sunderland awaiting, Liverpool should travel with a spring to their step.
No penalties conceded and am confident Reina will keep a clean sheet. At the other end of the field, Liverpool are capable of scoring and get the second set of three points to their name.

A European match kicking off in the afternoon felt strange, a bit like Roy Evans vintage wine presented in a plastic bottle. The blazing sun rather than the floodlights continued the unfamiliarity of this match, but much stranger things have happened and Liverpool started their European journey in the Stade Municipal in the French South-West city, a journey which is unknown where it will lead to and what adventures will it present to both the team and its fans.

Toulouse seemed to treat the occassion similarly to the way a Championship side will treat an FA Cup tie against a Premiership one televised on Sky. Their fans seemed to rise up to the occassion too, filling the four sides of the stadium, and along with their noise adorned the terraces with their long, narrow flags. Liverpool with six changes from last Saturday's Premiership opener quickly showed their European pedigree and experience though, dictated the pace of the match, while letting their over zealous opponents do the running in the scorching heat. Mentioning journeys earlier on, this was a rather plain sailing one, with next to nothing hitches or twists. The finishing line can only be achieved in two weeks time, as how Jamie Carragher correctly reminded but the display was efficient and the boss is happy about the proceedings of this counter.

The killer blow as dealt by the new kid on the block, Andriy Voronin. Having his back some twenty-five yards away from their goal, he gladly chested Crouch's flick from Finnan's cross, let the ball bounce before him and unleashed an unmerciful shot which only the top right hand corner of their net could stop.

Without much aplomb, hype or headlines, the Ukranian is settling quietly into the side and contributing his fair share to the side. I wasn't expecting much from him myself, but so far he is proving me wrong and am happy to eat my humble pie. His official goal scoring account was opened with a big thud of a warning of what he might offer in the future which was already discreetly shown in the pre-season.

An away goal, a clean sheet and modest opposition render proper Champions League football on the amber light. All will be forgotten by next Sunday where the focus will all be directed on Chelsea's foruth return to Anfield this year, albeit under different circumstances and with different reasons to fight for.

Off the blocks

Being starved for nearly three months, I just realised how much I missed the match. Meeting a couple of the lads I haven't seen in those three months was good, most of them sporting a nice tan, between the lines saying they had a good Summer.


But cometh the first match of the season, the Summer was forgot and put aside, and it felt good to be back following the eleven men sporting the Liverbird. Imagine having the same feeling going back to work after a long lay-off. But then again real life and football are so many times poles apart.


And if anything, the last ten minutes of the match really defined a roller-coaster. It is a cheap and over-used cliche but for the life of me I can't think of anything more poignant. Liverpool were firmly on track, creating chances and winding down the last minutes on the clock. They were comfortable. Then, out of nothing came the hand-ball in the penalty area with the over-eager Riley snatching on like a hungry cat does on cream, and that sick feeling of deja-vu hits your stomach. So much like last season it felt. Mostly in control, chances created, chances missed, punishment at the other end of the field, valuable points lost.

Two minutes later though the skipper stepped up. He won a free-kick, set himself up, bends the ball over the wall, past the keeper's reach and voila some mad celebrations. A moment of genius at a crucial time with the chips being down.

Steven Gerrard yesterday had a superlative day. He seems to be in an optimal frame of mind. His body language which uncovers so much of him is showing it. He looks made up with his place in the middle of the pitch, and he is eager to prove his boss that is where he belongs - in the thick of things, pulling the strings, and going forward when the chance presents itself. I have counted three very good attempts on target apart from his goal, which brought good saves off the keeper Taylor and Gardener's body. Loose balls in the opposition penalty area are less likely to go begging with him starting from the middle. And in such an inspired form, at the very end he showed another priceless quality - resolve, and did his day and Liverpool's justice, their efforts deserved.
At twenty-seven years of age, he is now at his very peak and maturing. He is saying the right words off the pitch and can make all the difference for a succesful season from a good season for Liverpool F.C.

And yesterday while him being the shining star, he was surrounded by other eager, confident and hungry lads. The first goal of the season was only an own goal, but the lead was surely deserved. Gerrard created the move by a through-pass, the self-less Kuyt dummied, Torres got the ball, rode a tackle and his effort brought out a good save off Taylor. Kuyt grasped the rebound before going away to a corner, cut the ball in and Laursen did the job for the lads waiting to pounce in.

A more than a decent start, and the first three points on the opening day since 2002. This was miles better than than last year's trip to Bramall Lane and justified the big wait for the first kick-off.

New Season, New Dreams, New Hopes


The sun here is still shining brightly, and most rooms aren’t bearable without the help of artificial cool air. Being an island the sea is very close to anywhere and easily accessible. And I absolutely love it. It is another way of escaping from the heat, the everyday chores and sweat.
Still I just can’t wait for tomorrow. First proper match of the season, first proper debuts for some of the new signings I guess and another short trek to our club where to meet with the other red mates after some three months without seeing much of each other to get glued to what this rather new look Liverpool have got to offer. And another dream starts, and the daily routine will be again be broken up by the men in red every weekend and the occasional mid-week match.
I have that feeling of anticipation for tomorrow’s kick-off which Sky has decided to prolong by another couple of hours. But I can’t complain much, what’s two hours to three months to put things into perspective. It’s the first of thirty-eight, and such a kick-off is probably looked forward to as much as some of the crucial final matches. Tomorrow will be different though, everyone is on a plain level and the batteries are only starting to recharge rather than flattened with broken dreams and disappointments.
I remember the last time Liverpool faced Aston Villa on the first match of the season. It was a Sunday kick-off, and Riise opened the score after being put through by Danny Murphy. El Hadji Diouf was making his debut and he run ragged the Villa defense. After placing second the season before, the title looked so close and I had more than a couple to celebrate. I felt good, most of us felt good and the world felt an alright place to be at. The following months though the mood changed drastically and by the end we couldn’t wait for the season to finish as the reds did not get even the consolation of a Champions League berth.
With Aston Villa again on the first day, you might feel that sense of deja-vu again. After being floored by AC Milan on the Champions League Final, Rafa must have more than a small job in his hands. The signings and his beard have drifted the attention and am sure the whole squad ably led by Gerrard or even more so Carragher are kicking their heels for a good start tomorrow. Talk of getting out of the blocks very early this season have been incessant, now is just the time to prove it. Lately Liverpool have had good starts as much as Fidel Castro has got Yankee mates. The last time, Liverpool had a good start was back in 2002, leading the table till between October and November. Still, it was an awful lot less than enough as the reds just descended down the table as darkness does on a wintry day.
To keep our dreams alive till May, a similar start is probably needed. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the journey itself with some interesting European places in between, and continue the pace through the weeks and months to doubly celebrate the status of European Capital of Culture.