The message was loud and clear. Luis Suarez is back and hope springs eternal for Liverpool.
The Uruguay striker marked his first Premier League start for five months with a clinical double to lift the gloom generated by back-to-back defeats.
Suarez provided the injection of class the Reds required to overcome the challenge of struggling Sunderland.
In doing so he celebrated the birth of his son in style and demonstrated exactly why Brendan Rodgers and the club's owners fought so hard to keep him at Anfield.
As Suarez strolled down the tunnel at the end of a satisfying afternoon's work, Elvis Presley's 'I Can't Help Falling in Love with You' was blaring out across the Stadium of Light. The soundtrack was fitting.
There was a debt that needed to be repaid and strong leadership at Anfield ensured he wouldn't be allowed to move on until he had coughed up.
In the North East he provided a timely instalment.
It could have been a case of once bitten, twice shy where Reds fans are concerned.
But the reality is that Suarez is a player of such exceptional talent that you can't help but delight in the fact that he's wearing your club's colours.
The travelling Kop showed their appreciation for his efforts as his name echoed around the Stadium of Light.
The affection remains strong because the bottom line is Suarez continues to give everything for the cause and is capable of making the difference in Liverpool's challenge for Champions League qualification this term.
Of course this was far from being a one-man mission. Daniel Sturridge was hugely impressive as he emphatically answered those who questioned whether he would continue to flourish following Suarez's return.
There was a school of thought that Sturridge had hit a purple patch in the Uruguayan's absence because he was the focal point of the Reds' attack.
That being the leading man was some kind of ego boost he required in order to perform.
But Sturridge showed he's just as happy being the support act as he unselfishly created both of Suarez's goals.
The £12million man got lucky with his 18th goal for the club in just 24 appearances when referee Howard Webb failed to spot the fact that he had unintentionally converted Steven Gerrard's corner with his arm.
Yet there was plenty to admire about the relentless shift Sturridge put in as he held the ball up, brought teammates into play and was always a willing runner down the channels. It was no surprise that in the closing seconds he lay stricken with cramp.
The Suarez and Sturridge partnership is an exciting one and their heroics ensured Liverpool capitalised on the fact that Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea had all dropped points 24 hours earlier.
Victory lifted Rodgers' side up to second place as the sight of the Black Cats brought them some welcome good fortune after the double dose of disappointment against Southampton and Manchester United.
It was hardly a vintage display as once again standards slipped after the interval and the Reds came close to squandering a 2-0 advantage.
But they dug deep and weathered the storm before Suarez wrapped up the points late on - Liverpool's first second-half goal in some 404 minutes of action.
Rodgers had kept faith with the XI who had started at Old Trafford and Suarez wasted little time making his mark. Latching on to Jordan Henderson's pass, he shrugged off Sebastian Larsson but his right-footer flashed wide.
When Gerrard's 20-yard free-kick was parried by Keiren Westwood, Martin Skrtel followed up to slam in the rebound but the Slovakian's joy was shortlived as the flag was up for offside.
Sunderland's wretched start had cost Paolo Di Canio his job with caretaker boss Kevin Ball looking to stake a claim for the job on a permanent basis.
His players responded to his call to show some pride and fired up by a partisan crowd they caused the Reds plenty of problems.
Sebastian Larsson rattled the bar with a curling free-kick before Rodgers' side broke off the shackles and took the lead in the 28th minute.
There was controversy as it went in off Sturridge's arm but considering that four years ago the Reds were beaten by a beach ball in this fixture, no-one was in the mood to apologise.
Eight minutes later Liverpool doubled their account.
Sturridge turned provider as he controlled Gerrard's raking cross-field pass and sped past Carlos Cuellar down the right. The cross with the outside of his left foot was inch perfect for Suarez to slid it home.
Suarez lifted his shirt to parade a T-shirt with the words 'Welcome Benja' above a picture of his wife and two children with 'Los Amo' (I love them) below it - a tribute to his son who was born on Thursday.
Simon Mignolet clearly suffered from a bout of nerves on his return to the North East as his handling was less than convincing.
However, the Belgian keeper did make a fine save just before the break as he stuck out a boot to deny Craig Gardner.
Rodgers may need to have a re-think about the half-time refreshments in the dressing room because the Reds have made a habit of starting second halves sluggishly and so it proved again.
Within seven minutes the deficit had been halved.
Ki Sung Yueng was given far too much time and space 25 yards out, Mignolet couldn't hold his sweet strike and Emanuele Giaccherini made him pay.
The atmosphere was transformed and it took a sprawling save from Mignolet to prevent Gardner from restoring parity.
Liverpool's sloppiness in possession gave Sunderland hope. The game was far too open and it took some desperate defending to protect their slender lead with Martin Skrtel once again outstanding.
Rodgers' side were reduced to hitting the hosts on the break with Victor Moses and Kolo Toure going close before a slick counter-attack secured victory in the 89th minute.
Mignolet's quick throw found Suarez who burst forward before clipping a lofted pass into the path of Sturridge.
The England striker skipped past Giaccherini and squared for Suarez who swept it left-footed into the net.
It was Suarez's seventh goal in six meetings with Sunderland - how the Black Cats must be sick of the sight of him.
In stark contrast, Kopites just can't get enough.
Source: Liverpool Echo
