Steven Gerrard vows to build on Liverpool's win over Sunderland

Feb 2 2008

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is hoping today’s 3-0 victory over Sunderland can breed some much-needed confidence as the Reds secured their first Barclays Premier League win since Boxing Day.

The club are having major problems off the field too, with fans staying behind after the game ended to voice their discontent towards American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

But they at least had a win to cheer at last as Liverpool begin their fight to claim the fourth Champions League place, with Premier League title aspirations surely put to bed.

Peter Crouch headed the Reds in front after Sunderland had kept them at bay for the first 56 minutes, and Fernando Torres added a second with a typically electric burst forward and accomplished finish 12 minutes later for his 18th goal of the season.

Gerrard tucked in a third from the penalty spot late on after Jermaine Pennant was tripped in the box by Nyron Nosworthy, with the Wearsiders claiming they should have had a spot-kick earlier in the game when Jamie Carragher appeared to block a shot with his arm.

Gerrard told Setanta Sports: “The win is nice and the clean sheet is nice, but we can still play better. Winning breeds confidence and confidence is a bit low at the moment so that certainly helps.

“We’re happy with the win, we go on international duty now and then we play Chelsea next weekend and we can look forward to that.”

On the penalty controversy, Carragher added: “I threw myself at the shot, it did hit my arm but I didn’t do it deliberately. If we’ve been fortunate, fair enough.

“We haven’t won for five or six games so it was important we got the three points with the Manchester City and Everton results going for us.”