Reds too good for Sunderland

Benitez had railed against what he perceived to be a catalogue of injustices against his side this week, but his mood will have lifted after Liverpool's solid display.

Mohamed Sissoko grabbed his first goal for the club in the 37th minute to put the visitors in control and Voronin sealed victory with four minutes to go.

Only some superb saves from Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon and the application of the home defence kept Liverpool at bay for so long.

But it might have been very different if Voronin had capitalised on a dreadful error by Greg Halford with just 25 seconds gone, his low shot squeezing wide.

The early loss of Sami Hyypia with a bloody nose mattered little to Liverpool, whereas Sunderland suffered a big blow when Kieron Richardson limped off.

However, Sunderland should have edged ahead in the 24th minute when substitute Anthony Stokes hit his shot under Jose Reina, only for Daniel Agger to clear from the edge of the six-yard box.

Liverpool made them pay in the 37th minute. Voronin laid the ball back to Sissoko on the edge of the box and the Mali international drilled a low right-foot shot into the corner of the net.

The second goal seemed a matter of time early in the second half as Liverpool resumed their dominance and Xabi Alonso played in Torres, who was denied by the impressive Gordon.

Gordon rescued Sunderland again after Torres fired in a fierce low shot and later produced a point-blank save to deny Voronin. However, Voronin made no mistake after 86 minutes with a clinical finish.