Sunderland - 0 Liverpool - 2: Liverpool's march continues, with five Premiership wins in a row without conceding a goal, and their latest came against a Sunderland side that is in danger of beating all of its own records.
Relegated in 2003 with only 19 points, the Wearsiders look like they will struggle to get into double figures this time round. Not even the second-half dismissal of Mohamed Sissoko for a second yellow card could save the home side, and Mick McCarthy may well follow Alain Perrin as the top flight's next managerial casualty.
His side have now taken only five out of 45 points this season.
Liverpool, meanwhile, climb to fourth in the league.
Sunderland had tried 18 times for a Premiership victory on their home turf since beating Liverpool way back in December 2002. And Sami Hyypia was perhaps guilty of treating his opponents lightly when he pondered his passing options too long after only two minutes and was robbed by Jonathan Stead. The striker exchanged passes with Liam Lawrence, but in his haste to capitalise on the opportunity Lawrence strayed offside.
Sunderland didn't start like a team waiting for the gallows trapdoor to fall from beneath them. They passed the ball with more purpose in the opening 15 minutes without having the thrust to threaten Jose Reina's goal, and the visitors' frustration at their slow start showed when Steve Finnan argued too long over a free-kick decision with referee Phil Dowd, who showed the full-back a yellow card with only 10 minutes gone.
Liverpool spurned a presentable opening after 25 minutes when Peter Crouch's long stride was not enough to beat the onrushing Ben Alnwick.
But any hope McCarthy had of his side taking anything from the game evaporated after 31 minutes when Luis García broke the deadlock.
The winger took the congratulations, but the architect was Xabi Alonso, who had his back to the Sunderland goal inside his half when he hooked a ball forwards. Whether it was a hopeful pass or brilliance, it didn't matter to García, who left Gary Breen and Justin Hoyte trailing before coolly slotting his shot under the advancing Alnwick.
There was a feeling already that it was game over, and that sentiment was enhanced in the final minute of the half when Liverpool's second arrived as Alonso again sliced the home defence open with ease. This time it was Danny Collins who was caught on his heels as Steven Gerrard galloped outside him and into the box, flicked the ball over Alnwick and passed into the empty net.
The traffic continued to be one-way after the interval and Sunderland fans, starved of anything to smile about this season, were chortling at their own fortune when Alnwick parried Gerrard's 47th-minute shot into the path of Crouch, who had the goal at his mercy before Steve Caldwell brought him down, only for Dowd to wave play-on.
Only a heroic block by Hoyte prevented John Arne Riise from making it 3-0 on 58 minutes. By now the waif-like Andy Welsh was on for Sunderland, soon to be followed by Harry Kewell for Liverpool in place of Morientes.
By now McCarthy and Sunderland chairman Bob Murray were getting it in the neck from sections the weary home support.
Guardian Service
SUNDERLAND: Alnwick, Hoyte (Nosworthy 77), Breen, Caldwell, Collins, Whitehead, Lawrence (Gray 86), Bassila, Miller (Welsh 57), Stead, Brown. Subs not used: Davis, Leadbitter.
LIVERPOOL: Reina, Finnan, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise (Warnock 90), Gerrard, Sissoko, Alonso, Luis Garcia, Crouch (Traore 79), Morientes (Kewell 60). Subs not used: Carson, Sinama Pongolle. Sent Off: Sissoko (65). Booked: Finnan, Sissoko. Goals: Luis Garcia 30, Gerrard 45.
Referee: P Dowd (Staffordshire).
