Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0:Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Sunderland 3-0 today and stay in the hunt for fourth place in the Premier League. Blackburn Rovers were 1-0 winners over Burnley in the day's early kick-off.
After Tottenham Hotspur beat Portsmouth 2-0 yesterday it was essential for Rafa Benitez’s side to keep in touch and they did so in some style.
Spurs remained fourth on 58 points from 31 games with Liverpool fifth on 54 from 32. Manchester City, who have played only 30 and face Wigan Athletic tomorrow, have 53 with Aston Villa on 51 from 31 after their 7-1 thrashing by Chelsea.
Manchester United, 4-0 winners at Bolton Wanderers, top the standings on 72.
Chelsea, who visit United next Saturday, have 71 with Arsenal third on 68 after they drew 1-1 at Birmingham City.
Last October Liverpool controversially lost 1-0 at Sunderland's Stadium of Light after Darren Bent's shot went in via a beach ball that had been thrown on to the pitch by a Liverpool fan.
The offending ball now resides in the museum of football in Preston and that defeat seemed like ancient history as Liverpool produced a vintage first-half display.
They led 2-0 at the break and could have 10 after a relentless 45 minutes of attacking.
They set the tone with Torres's wonderfully-taken opener after three minutes. The Spanish striker cut inside from the touchline, skipped between two defenders and curled a perfect top-corner finish beyond Craig Gordon.
The second came after 32 minutes when full back Glen Johnson's long-range effort took a deflection.
Gordon had no chance with that but made several good saves as Liverpool poured on the power. Torres hit the post and shot wide in one mad scramble and defender Daniel Agger could have had a hat-trick.
Sunderland were better in the second half without looking like getting back into the game and Liverpool wrapped up the points on the hour with a calm finish by Torres after a good ball by Johnson.
Earlier in the day a controversial David Dunn penalty earned Blackburn a 1-0 win against Lancashire rivals Burnley, effectively ending any lingering relegation fears for Rovers while leaving their opponents deeper in the mire.
Blackburn are now through the 40-point barrier and into the top half of the table while Burnley, on 27, stay in 19th spot and three points adrift of safety.
But Burnley will rightly feel aggrieved at Mike Dean's decision to award the decisive spot-kick as Martin Olsson appeared to dive over Brian Jensen with little or no contact.
Burnley huffed and puffed in the second half in search of an equaliser, but Blackburn came closest to adding to the goals column as his shot cannoned off the underside of the bar and just failed to cross the line.
Premier League Results
Burnley 0 Blackburn 1
Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0