Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0: The hardcore stood firm after the final whistle, the two thousand or more around Block 306 of The Kop protesting long and loud against the American businessmen, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, who will mark their first anniversary as Liverpool owners on Wednesday considering an exit strategy when they had sought a profitable party.

It was away from the naked eye and before Liverpool's first league win of 2008, however, where perspective was found on the club's troubles and domestic ambition.

"All the players knew how important this game was and we were geeing ourselves up before the game more than in any other Premier League game this year," revealed Peter Crouch, so often over-looked by Rafael Benitez this season but whose opening goal against Sunderland spared his manager untold anxieties.

As Crouch and Liverpool's performance testified, it will be a hard slog to regain confidence and a foothold in the top four and the manager's decision-making recognised as much.

Moving Jamie Carragher to right-back brought unexpected dividends with his brief metamorphosis into a winger leading to Crouch's critical breakthrough, though Benitez risked alienating his vice-captain in the process.

"He was not very happy but I think he understood," the manager hoped. An admission that Carragher, the excellent Sami Hyypia and the alarming Martin Skrtel were all selected to nullify Sunderland's threat at set-pieces provided further indication of the Spaniard's preoccupation with opponents, often at the expense of faith in his own resources.

The Brazilian central midfielder Lucas was bizarrely deployed on the left wing, the right-back Steve Finnan replaced Fabio Aurelio at left-back after the interval, impressively too, while Xabi Alonso and Harry Kewell were dropped completely after abysmal performances in the preceding defeat at West Ham.

The Australian is out of contract in the summer and, barring a miracle, on his way out. Surprisingly Alonso could also be made available, a harsh decision given the Spanish playmaker requires games to aid his recovery from a twice-broken metatarsal but is employed by a manager and at a club who cannot offer luxuries while fighting for their own health.

Aside from another excellent display from Javier Mascherano, whose permanent transfer to Liverpool should be sealed and announced this week, Benitez's confidence in his midfield was over-stated. For 57 minutes the home side dominated possession but lacked the ingenuity to disturb an impassioned Sunderland defence. Then Carragher created a moment of major importance for both Crouch and Benitez, reacting with not a flicker of emotion afterwards, and the striker's fine header acted as a defibrillator on a previously lifeless Liverpool.

Roy Keane's side displayed a resilience that augurs well for a relegation scrap but their supply to Kenwyne Jones was non-existent.

Fernando Torres plundered his 18th goal of the season from a flick-on by Crouch to hasten Liverpool's recovery and Sunderland, disrupted by Kieran Richardson's latest hamstring injury after seven minutes, were denied the opportunity to examine the hosts' fragile confidence when the referee, Rob Styles, failed to spot Carragher blocking Daryl Murphy's shot with an arm.

"Rob refereed the Chelsea game here a few months ago and was demoted for a penalty he gave against Liverpool," remarked Keane, his irritation increased by the Nyron Nosworthy handball that enabled Gerrard to bring flattery to the scoreline from the penalty spot. "I don't know if that was on his mind but I will ask him when I see him. We were never going to get a penalty in this game. Never."

• Guardian Service