Suarez brings order to a day of emotion

After the week of all weeks for Liverpool Football Club, for their supporters, and for football, it was hard to know how this match would play out; hard to find the right pitch, the right sentiment, the right tone. The result certainly wasn't immaterial but then it was in the context of the findings of the Hillsborough Independent Panel and what they meant, of what really happened on that day 23 years ago.

But Liverpool, in their first game since the momentous, vindicating report was published, were desperate for a victory because win is what football players have to try and do; what their fans crave. And Liverpool were desperate to launch their campaign; to gain that first triumph under their new manager Brendan Rodgers who has also spoken to eloquently, so responsibly over the last few days. He also spoke of how it has brought home the magnitude of his job.

They gained a draw, with a late Luis Suarez goal, but deserved all three points. This morning Liverpool, after four matches and no victories, are uncomfortably close to foot of the Premier League but they will climb, they will improve. They also avoided the ignominy of making their worst start to a season for more than a century.

Sunderland knew that whatever happened, however well they played, whatever the result, the occasion would be a Liverpool story. But they were fortunate to avoid defeat while teenager Raheem Sterling produced a display of precocious brilliance as he drove Liverpool back into the match.

The Liverpool players took to the pitch wearing black tracksuit tops with, in large white writing, the number 96 on the back. They included several players - 17-year-old Raheem Sterling, 20-year-old Jonjo Shelvey and Martin Kelly, 22 - who were not even born when the disaster happened such has been the tragic injustice, the passage of time.

Kelly, most poignant of all, born in Whiston, Merseyside, and with Liverpool since he was seven, has grown up immersed in the horrific events and how they affected his club, his community, his city and beyond. The line-up also, of course, included Steven Gerrard who lost his cousin that day.

As they strode out there were banners, also, high up to their left draped in front of the visiting supporters. "Justice for the 96" read the most visible, a reminder that justice is still achingly far away despite the relief of the panel's findings.

There was little other ceremony, little other acknowledgement, beyond a heartfelt message of support on the large screens hanging from the top of the stands behind the goals, which was wholly understandable. Here was, now, a Premier League match, with points at stake, and a fierce competition to unfold.

Sunderland were not in the mood to stand off; not with Lee Cattermole, who snapped into tackles on Joe Allen and Gerrard as the contest rattled at a relentless pace. Space was at a premium, especially in midfield, although with their greater fluidity Liverpool began to exert a modicum of control with Fabio Borini released close to goal only for Simon Mignolet to save his driven shot with his legs.

It was a good opportunity for the Italian to score his first goal and he went even closer, making a sharp connection with Suarez's lay-off inside the area. Mignolet, again, produced an instinctive block.

That concern rose dramatically. Just as Liverpool appeared in control it was inevitable, then, that Sunderland would score. They broke away with Craig Gardner superbly tricking his way down the right and sending in a dangerous low cross. Steven Fletcher showed the predatory instinct of an in-form striker to steal in ahead of Daniel Agger and turn the ball into the net for a third goal since his big-money arrival from Wolves.

Liverpool's frustration grew with Suarez cautioned for diving in pursuit of a penalty. There was no protest from him this time.

Liverpool were hugely unfortunate not to draw level, however, when Glen Johnson cut in from left-back, onto his right foot, only for his curling shot from the area's edge to beat Mignolet but cannon back off the crossbar.

By now Sunderland were in danger of sitting off but Martin O'Neill urged them forward and Stephane Sessegnon twisted and turned into the area before Seb Larsson was denied with a goal-bound drive because it struck Kelly's head.

Still the better chances fell to Liverpool with Mignolet saving again from Borini before Shelvey ferried the rebound to Gerrard who, of all people, somehow side-footed wide. Finally the goal came and it owed much to the hugely impressive Sterling, creating space down the right and centring. Substitute Titus Bramble was caught out, lacking alertness, and Suarez pounced to sweep home the ball from the near post.

If anything, Liverpool's dominance grew as they sensed victory. Sunderland struggled to gain a foothold and Larsson was fortunate only to be cautioned for launching himself at Sterling. Earlier, Mignolet had beaten out Shelvey's fierce shot. Liverpool continued to push, continued to seek the victory their efforts deserved but Sunderland held on.