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Sunderland 0 Liverpool 1

ROY Keane will step up his search for a proven Premier League striker this week after seeing Fernando Torres give a textbook demonstration of the predatory arts at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Sunderland’s interest in Blackburn forward, Benni McCarthy is likely to be followed up with a firm bid in the next few days as the Black Cats’ deficiencies in front of goal saw them fall to a belowpar Liverpool.

And Keane, who is prepared to break the club’s transfer record to land a top quality marksman, saw Torres as a perfect example of the adage ‘you get that you pay for’.

“That’s why guys like that cost £25-£30 million,” said Keane. “People keep asking me about the value of players and I say he’s worth every penny because he’s won the game for Liverpool today and that could make a difference for them.

“That’s why you would love a player like that. You have to convert your chances whether you are on top or not.”

A makeshift back four, with Phil Bardsley slotting in at left-back and Danny Collins switching to a central role, did well to restrict the visitors to a few half-chances before Torres pounced with a superb low finish from 25 yards.

For much of the first half, the home side dominated proceedings, with new signing Steed Malbranque putting in an eye-catching performance in midfield.

Teemu Tainio and El Hadji Diouf also started strongly as Sunderland’s passing and movement was a huge improvement on last season’s blood-and-guts endeavour.

But without a targetman, and try as he might, Darryl Murphy just didn’t pose a serious threat to Pepe Reina’s goal, Sunderland’s good approach play lacked an end product.

“We looked comfortable in terms of possession but possession doesn’t win you games,” said Keane.

“You know they will have a strong last ten to 15 minutes, but we didn’t do enough, we dropped off trust me, I did mention that in my team talks. If you drop off Torres and Steven Gerrard you’ll be in big, big trouble.”

While Torres grabbed the headlines, the pivotal moment of the game was the introduction of Xabi Alonso at halftime.

The Spaniard , linked with a move to Arsenal last week, took control of the midfield as Sunderland visibly flagged.

Keane suggested that his team’s preseason games hadn’t been sufficiently rigorous to prepare them for such a challenging fixture.

“Maybe we’ve lacked a little bit of match sharpness against high class opposition.

“That’s said with no disrespect to Ajax but maybe we could have done with a couple more games before playing Liverpool. I’m not here to make excuses though,” said Keane, who left captain Dean Whitehead out of his starting line-up, handing the armband to Andy Reid.

Keane said: “Don’t be surprised if Deano starts on Saturday.

I did what I felt was right today.

“Deano has been an outstanding player for me for the last two years.

“He took the decision on the chin, like you would hope and expect.

“When I was a player at Man United I was left out for a lot of games.”

Whitehead replaced the tiring Tainio on the hour but failed to get anywhere the drive of Gerrard or the guile of Alonso. It’s questionable whether the skipper will hold down a regular berth this season as Keane seeks to build a more creative side.

Alonso nearly bagged an early contender for goal of the season when, spotting Craig Gordon off his line, he tried an audacious effort from inside the Liverpool half that narrowly flew over the bar.

In last season’s games against Liverpool, Sunderland capitulated. It is a measure of their progress made over the summer that it took a moment of brilliance for the visitors to snatch victory.

“Ask any manager – I know this from being a player, and what you want is to make the team you’re playing feel like they’ve been in a game,” said Keane.

“We gave them a game.”

And as Keane will spend the next few days looking to strengthen his squad, he knows that his targets will be of a higher calibre this time around.

“Today’s result won’t have a massive effect on who we are trying to buy, but the progress we’ve made in the two years is slowly doing that,” said Keane. “You can tell by the players we’ve signed.

“We wouldn’t have been able to sign that type of player last summer; I know, because I tried,” he confirmed.

Match Facts...

Goal: 0-1, Torres (83mins; low striker from 25-yards)Bookings: Arbeloa (56mins, unporting behaviour), El Zhar (90, dissent)
Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire) – a quiet game with both teams heeding the FA’s Respect Programme. 7

Attendance: 43,259
Entertainment: Three stars

SUNDERLAND: 4-1-4-1

7 Gordon: Some good reaction saves and had no chance with the goal

5 Chimbonda: Defended solidly but failed to pose an attacking threat

7 Nosworthy: An assured display marred by giving Torres space for the goal

7 Collins: Helped keep Liverpool’s £45m strikeforce quiet for most of the game

7 Bardsley: Performed well in an unfamiliar left-back role

7 Tainio: Solid display before running out of steam

7 Diouf: Sunderland’s best attacking threat but lacked support

8 MALBRANQUE: Energetic, good in possession, already a fans’ favourite.

6 Richardson: Sporadic flashes of attacking flair but no end product.

6 Reid: Neat touches but faded in second half.

5 Murphy: Frustrated in his lone role but rarely threatened to score.

Subs

Whitehead (for Tainio 57) – A typically hard-working performance 5 Edwards (for Malbranque 73) A couple of crosses but rarely looked a threat 5 Chopra (81) Failed to grab another opening day late goal 5 (not used): Ward (gk), Leadbitter, Higginbotham, Stokes.

LIVERPOOL (4-4-2): Reina 6, Arbeloa 6, Carragher 7, Hyypia 7, Dossena 5, Kuyt 7, Gerrard 8, Plessis 5 (Alonso 46, 8) , Benayoun 8 (Aurelio 81 ), Keane 5 (El Zhar 77, 5), Torres 8. Subs (not used): Cavalieri, Agger, Ngog, Skrtel.

MAN OF THE MATCH: XABI Alonso - his introduction at half time tipped the balance firmly in Liverpool’s favour.