Cisse does it again for Sunderland

Djibril Cisse continues his career revival with another goal for Sunderland

Being a Liverpool fan I've always liked Djibril Cisse and am glad to see he's banging them in for Sunderland. He got the winner against Blackburn yesterday and that make it a respectable four goals in eleven games.

Djibril Cisse - leg break

Cisse has had a torrid time over the years, not least of which where two career threatening leg breaks, which severely disrupted his time at Liverpool. I've always thought all he needed was time and patience to get back to his best, and now he seems to be getting there. I think Cisse will prove to be a great player for Sunderland. He's got pace to burn, and is a great finisher!

Djibril Cisse will be one of the top scorers in the Premier League this season and will get back to his pre leg-break from. Mark my words!

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Sunderland Football: Tottenham floored by Sunderland

Sunderland Football: Keano's proving a slippery Black Cat as Tottenham are stunned

So Sunderland football and the FA Premier League do mix! Roy Keano is beginning to show signs of not only being a fierce man motivator, but a real canny mover in the transfer market as well.

His Sunderland football side has been beefed up with proven Premiership players this year, and boy does it show, and with Anton Ferdinand another likely arrival you really can't see Sunderland and Keano boys struggling in the Premiership this year.

His signings of Malbranque, Chimbonda, El Hadj-Diouf and Cisse are already looking like masterstrokes. Footy Focus can't help thinking there's one manager with a paper thin squad, no signings in and a very red face wishing he'd have thought of moving for those four. David Moyes of Everton if you can't guess - how much better would Everton be with those on board. Cisse has always got goals, even in two injury hit seasons at Liverpool. and is lightening quick El Hadj-Diouf is a tremendous talent and one hell of a worker, while Malbranque is proven quality.

Sunderland's football was tremendous yesterday, and to win 2-1 after conceding an equaliser was superb. That Sunderland could have someone of the quality of Cisse on the bench shows the strides they are making.

Footy Focus sees Sunderland football as going to be a vast improvement on last years struggles. With Keano's motivation and the new signings, watch the Black Cats go!

Premier League Results: Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland

Crouch exposes Rafa's folly, as Liverpool overcome Sunderland

A goal and an assist from Peter Crouch, enabled Liverpool to eventually overcome a dogged Sunderland at Anfield. Rafa Benitez's incredulous decision to previously stick with a woefully out of form Dirk Kuyt, was exposed by Crouch's contribution. Put simply, Crouch consistently gets and makes goals, Kuyt doesn't. Where would Liverpool be if Crouch had not been warming the bench so often? A lot closer to the top would be the answer from most Liverpool fans.

In the first half Liverpool were all toil, neat play, but precious little end product. Only Pennant caught the eye with his pace and direct running. On the left, Lucas who was preferred to Harry Kewell was not providing any width, having a tendency to drift in-field. That said he still worked harder, and looked more effective than Kewell has in recent games.

Sunderland, undertstandably were out to contain Liverpool and get a point. Anything else to them was a bonus, and they showed virtually zero attacking threat throughout the game.

Sunderland were eventually prised open, when after an attack broke down, Jamie Carragher of all people, took on the opposite fullback and crossed superbly for Crouch to head home. Soon after Crouch flicked on Gerrard's touch, Torres sped away and finished superbly to wrap up the game for Liverpool. In the 89th minute Nosworthy was adjudged to have upended Pennant, and Gerrard stepped up to convert to seal a 3-0 win for Liverpool.

Roy Keane afterwards was disappointed not to have got at least one penalty, particularly when Carragher blocked a shot unintentionally with his arm.

Benitez will have been pleased with the confidence boosting win, and with the fact that Pepe Reina became the fastest keeper to reach 50 clean sheets in the clubs history. Then defending has never really been the problem for Liverpool during Benitez's reign, its at the other end Liverpool have problems. Until they can complement their central midfielders and Torres with players who would get into the squads of Manchester United and Arsenal they will always be scrapping for fourth, maybe third spot.

Premiership relegation battle - its tough at the bottom!

That was a priceless win for Sunderland against Derby in the premier leagues battle of the bottom clubs. If anyone can keep Sunderland up surely its Roy Keane. They were very lucky though getting a 93rd minute winner after Derby missed a couple of sitters. It was very a low on confidence display from both Sunderland and Derby which is not surprising given the relegation battle both are in. Its says it all for the Premier Leagues 'haves' and 'have-nots' with Sunderland resorting to Andy Cole up front. Derby meanwhile have all the hall-marks of a side in free-fall and I don't think appointing Paul Jewell will save the Rams from relegation.

Over at the 'Boro things aren't looking much brighter. Word is that Middlesborough haven't any cash to spend after losing 13 mill last financial year. Seems to me they have squandered millions in the last few years with manager after manager paying over the odds for guys after a big pay day at their expense. Middlesborough now appear in dire trouble and are gathering momentum for a freefall to the Championship.

Of the others I think Wigan could well stay up. Alex McLeish is a great manager and they actually do have some quality allied with a fighting spirit at Wigan. The same goes for Tottenham who will surely have too much to be dragged down into an end of season relegation battle. Bolton I suspect will continue to struggle though they also have some real quality in their team.

My tips to go down - Derby, Boro and Sunderland (though I hope not!)