Johnson 32

Liverpool moved to within four points of fourth place in the EPL thanks to this comfortable victory over a listless Sunderland.

The result was never in doubt after Fernando Torres gave manager Rafa Benitez’s men a third-minute lead. And, in the first half especially, Liverpool could have scored many more than three.

Torres’ third-minute strike was a glorious curling effort from the left edge of the penalty area.

And he arguably squandered an easier chance on 40 minutes when he struck a post with a fizzing right-foot drive and scuffed the rebound wide when he had a clearer sight of goal.

Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon had already saved from Daniel Agger by the time Liverpool went ahead. And Agger also missed two decent opportunities as Liverpool poured forward.

But they did grab a second on 32 minutes when right-back Glen Johnson’s left-foot shot deflected past a wrong-footed Gordon off defender Michael Turner’s knee.

Torres grabbed his second and Liverpool’s third on the hour with a cool, clever right-foot finish from Johnson’s dinked pass.

Substitute Bolo Zenden had Sunderland’s only decent effort on-target, a right-foot drive which keeper Pepe Reina saved well low down to his right in the 92^nd minute.