Fernando Torres fired Liverpool to a barely deserved 1-0 victory over Sunderland in their Barclays Premier League opener at the Stadium of Light.
The striker, scorer of the goal of winning at this year's European Championship final, was anonymous for much of the night as their association with £ 20m new boy Robbie Keane continued to stutter, but produced a fierce drive eight minutes from time to claim points.
It is a bitter pill to swallow for a Sunderland side who had enjoyed the better of the game and all but refuses the return of the Reds' fit again captain Steven Gerrard.
Sunderland surrendered four debut - with former Reds winger El-Hadji Diouf join Teemu Tainio, Steed Malbranque and Pascal Chimbonda in the starting line-up. Sunderland took kick-off and immediately went on the attack, Diouf feed directly into the Liverpool half before losing the ball at speed. Malbranque was also keen to make an impression, quickly turning Yossi Benayoun, but chipping across his ball too long.
With just five minutes past pace Diouf had his face former side twice, first by taking advantage of a last address of Jamie Carragher and then forcing Jose Reina in the wrong court settlement. Liverpool tried to force his way back into the game, Gerrard to drift wide as he tried twice and did not play Keane on the right.
Diouf, enjoying a good start to his career Black Cats, proved more incisive after 13 minutes, taking advantage of some poor defending to cross by Daryl Murphy, but the Irish led directly to Queen aiming enormous. Gerrard then prevented another attempt at goal when stole a strip Kieran Richardson in the box.
Sunderland briefly lost their composure after 25 minutes when the unlikely figure of Sami Hyypia provoked a mixture between goalkeeper Craig Gordon and his defense, but Liverpool were unable to seize attackers. Referee Alan Wiley decided not to award a penalty after a strong collision involving Benayoun, rather than blow to a lack Gerrard moments before.
The resulting free-kick is in a promising position, but a routine Telegraph Keane and Gerrard assured nothing would come of it. Ireland striker Keane made a better fist of the average opportunity three minutes before the interval, but screwed his shot wide after cleverly setting himself.
Benitez swallowed a certain amount of pride during the break, withdrawing the ineffective Damien Plessis and installation of Xabi Alonso - with a player who is happy to sell for the right price - at the center. After 54 minutes the former man Diouf, Bolton rejected a fine opportunity. Murphy, the amending of losing their previous set the ball tantalisingly across goal only for Diouf to scuff his shot at a grateful Queen. Alonso gradually began to arouse the Reds, elegant, starting with a movement that ended with one of their best opportunities - a Gerrard shot cannoning off Danny Collins in the yard six.
With 20 minutes to go, Benayoun won a free-kick a yard from the edge of the penalty box - but once again the delivery Gerrard was tame. In the aftermath, Keane and Torres' nascent pairing - who fought in the 0-0 midweek draw at Standard Liege - reached its lowest point yet, the Spanish convert a loose ball goalwards only to see his partner inadvertently divert the ball out of play. Keane withdrew his name sung aloud the home fans, minutes later.
A special Alonso inside his own half almost settled the match in spectacular fashion, but the midfielder was just wide with his strike - largely to Gordon relief. Alonso was also contact his compatriot freed after 82 minutes - but the finish, bypassing pace, everyone Torres.
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