Premier League: Sunderland v Liverpool – in pictures

Fans enter the Sunderland Supporters' Club before the match. Wearing a Di Canio shirt is probably a bit of a contraversial choice in there … Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

… And here's Di Canio's temporary replacement: the caretaker manager Kevin Ball. Will he fare better than the fiery Italian? Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Luis Suárez – hopefully he won't be displaying any of his more eccentric 'behavioural patterns', as the commentator Martin Tyler describes it. Photograph: Michael Mayhew/Sportsphoto/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar

The Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers with the assistant manager Colin Pascoe. It's safe to say he's not looking too concerned at the prospect of facing Sunderland. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Sturridge scores the first goal for Liverpool. A corner finds him free and an attempted header turns into a shoulder-barge on the ball – somehow it goes in. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Sunderland are left looking despondant after Sturridge's goal. Photograph: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

A cross from Sturridge finds Suarez unmarked in the goalmouth and he taps it over the line to make it 2-0 to Liverpool, despite a spirited battle from Sunderland. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Suarez celebrates the goal by uncovering a t-shirt celebrating the birth of his second child. Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP

Ki Sung Yeung and Steven Gerrard compete for the ball in a match that's far more open than the 2-0 score might suggest. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

Martin Skrtel slides a tackle through the legs of Jozy Altidore of Sunderland, sending him flying. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

And Sunderland have made it 1-2. Emanuele Giaccherini knocked in a deflection off Mignolet after a long-distance attempt from Ki. Luis Suarez does not look impressed. Photograph: Scott Heppell/AP

Liverpool's loaner from Chelsea, Victor Moses, is sent to the floor after a challenge from Sunderland's Jack Colback. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Sturridge and Suarez celebrate making it 1-3 to Liverpool. A great one-two from the Liverpool strikers across the Sunderland box saw Mignolet caught off guard with Suarez in space, who duly put the ball over the line. Photograph: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

Suarez leaves the pitch after a match which finds Liverpool standing at second in the Premier League. Despite still lying in last place, Sunderland fans will take heart from a spirited defence, in a game much more evenly matched than the final score would have you believe. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images