Liverpool 3
Crouch 57 Torres 69 Gerrard 89(pen)
Sunderland 0
Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0 February 02 2008
Liverpool's poor league run came to an end as three second-half goals against Sunderland eased the pressure on Rafael Benitez.
The Reds had not won in the Premier League since Boxing Day and they had to fight hard to finally subdue the battling Black Cats.
A shocking sequence of five league games without a victory was ended with goals from Peter Crouch and Fernando Torres before Steven Gerrard completed the scoring from the spot.
The hosts pulled themselves together after a frustrating first half and moved back up to fifth in the table.
Crouch headed in the first on 57 minutes after a superb cross from Jamie Carragher.
Torres outpaced Phil Bardsley to slam home the second on 69 minutes and Gerrard scored from the spot in the final minute after Jermaine Pennant was fouled by Nyron Nosworthy.