Quality not quantity

As a result, Sunderland fans were excited at the prospect of the start of the news season and many would probably admit to being privately confident of getting something out of Liverpool.

An overall reflection of Saturday's game is that we clearly showed we are a better side than last year. While we may have earned a lot of points in 2007/08 through battling and a never-say-die attitude, the performance of the side at the weekend gave the impression we should be able to win games this time through quality.

Malbranque looks intelligent but strong in the tackle at the same time, while Diouf looks a threat all the time. In fact, our entire midfield appears to be rather strong, not just on paper when compared to those of other teams.

Throughout the match, we had most of the ball, pressed them in their third and carved out chances we should have taken - Murphy's header was one that just has to be converted at this level, while Diouf should have done a lot better with his strike in the second half.

Despite our dominance, however, the feeling I had throughout was that all it would take was one moment of quality from the likes of Gerrard, Alonso, Keane or Torres to see us undone and, indeed that was what happened.

Aside from the comical moment when £18m man Keane blocked his Spanish strike partner's effort, Torres's shot was about their only chance of note.

But boy did he take advantage of it. Liverpool may not have had a large quantity of chances but the quality of the one Torres dispatched was world class and enough to take the three points.

Leaving the ground, I wasn't too disheartened. In fact, I still feel today as if we got something out on it. Last year we played the top four and were buried convincingly.

This time, we held our own and while you expect to lose these games from the outset, it was good to see us not just battle for 90 minutes but take the game to them.

It is a good sign and I am encouraged by how well the new boys have integrated and gelled as a unit. However, I do have a niggling worry.

That worry is that we go down to Tottenham and get nothing, then face a scrap against Manchester City, who also have the odd player who can turn it on and create just one moment of magic.

If we were to get three games in and have no points, panic could set in for many fans and we have seen in the past what the knock-on effects of this on the team can be.

But, if supporting Sunderland has taught me anything it is not to try and predict anything and (at least try) to take each game as it comes.

The Premiership roller-coaster is back but the only difference with this white-knuckle ride is that we don't know how it will end.