Liverpool registered their first win in five Premier League games and collected all three points on offer for the first time in 2008 as they beat Sunderland 3-0 at Anfield.

Reds' manager Rafael Benitez would have heaved a sigh of relief as the focus was back on here it belonged - the football field. The win was also Liverpool's first one since Boxing Day.

To their credit Sunderland made Liverpool work hard for the win and although there are dangerously close to the relegation zone, manager Roy Keane would have been delighted with the work ethic shown by the Black Cats.

Liverpool wore a new look as they were without Steve Finnan, Yossi Benayoun, Xabi Alonso, Harry Kewell and Dirk Kuyt as Benitez decided to bench them after the West Ham game.

However in the initial quarter, there was no difference between the two sides as they played out at a sedate pace. The first half produced no great moves from either side, but Liverpool were the dominant force in the midfield.

The Reds finally broke the deadlock in the 57th minute when Peter Crouch headed beyond Craig Gordon. The goal seemed to fuel Liverpool, who launched a series of attacks that finally paid dividends in the 69th minute when Fernando Torres put a right-footed shot beyond Gordon.

Liverpool relaxed after this goal and played some fine flowing football. In the 88th minute Nosworthy was adjudged to have fouled Pennant and Steven Gerrard hooked the resulting penalty effortlessly.

The win sees Liverpool on the fifth spot on the Premiership table with 43 points from 24 games, while Sunderland are in the 16th position with 23 points from 25 games.