Liverpool welcome Sunderland to Anfield as the underfire club look to bounce back from their midweek Carling Cup debacle against League Two side Northampton.

Cole now shows some invention on the Liverpool left... but he's stopped in his tracks soon enough.

Oooh! What a volley from Turner, looking to make amends... it's an instinctive first-time effort, but it goes over the bar!

Reader yvonne.griffiths70 says: "we've got revenge on the beachball with a michael turner".... could well be karma...

It goes short... but Henderson can't get it across the when it eventually does, it's over everyone's heads and it goes out for a goal kick.

Malbranque jinks this way and that before winning a corner for the visitors! First of the day for them!

That was Kuyt's first Premier League goal in seven months. His last six have all come at Anfield.

But here they come now... Bramble plays it forward looking for Welbeck... but it's overhit and the ball runs out of play.

Sunderland have it all to do now... they've barely had a chance to venture into Liverpool's half yet..

It is 11 month since Liverpool last lost back-to-back PL matches – 2-0 at Chelsea and 1-0 at today’s opponents Sunderland in October 2009.

Well, what a start for Liverpool... that was just what they needed to settle any nerves that may have been present.... and credit Torres for his quick thinking and unselfishness...

Bizarre is the only way to describe that goal... what was Turner thinking of... he tries to claim that he was roling the ball back for his keeper to take the free-kick, but after consulting with his linesman, referee Atwell awards the goal!

GOAL! LIVERPOOL TAKE THE LEAD! It's Kuyt who slots into an empty net! It's an absolute shocker from Michael Turner! He takes a free-kick back to his keeper with a back heel... only he's no good at that kind of fancy stuff and the ball rolls tamely towards Mignoley... Torres takes full advantage, haring onto the ball before playing it square to Kuyt who slots home!

Fernando Torres has scored four goals in four Premier League matches against Sunderland, and netted twice in this fixture last season - a 3-0 victory at Anfield on March 28.

Oooh! Chance for Torres! He controls a deep ball into the box on his chest before lashing a volley goalwards...into the back of the net but disallowed for offside!

Here we go! Under way at a sunny Anfield!

Liverpool’s starting line-up has an average age of 28 years and 263 days – their fourth-oldest ever in the division, and oldest in over four years. (Infostrada)

Darren Bent has scored three goals from four shots on target this season – a 75 per cent scoring rate – higher than any other player this season (who has scored more than two goals).

Sunderland have not won in their last 11 top flight to Anfield, losing the last four, since a 1-0 victory in old Division One in October 1983.

Liverpool have won seven of their last eight Premier League matches against Sunderland. Their only defeat since 2002 was 1-0 at the Stadium of Light last season in October 2009 - Darren Bent scored the only goal of the game - in off a beach ball.

For Sunderland, on-bail Titus Bramble plays, despite being arrested during the week. Steve Bruce makes three changes with captain Lee Cattermole (suspension), Phil Bardsley and Michael Turner all returning to action. Anton Ferdinand and Kieran Richardson (both injured) and Cristian Riveros miss out.

So, Dirk Kuyt returns from his shoulder injury a little earlier than expected to take his place in the starting line-up ahead of Maxi Rodriguez.