Liverpool made to regret missed penalty

Louis Suarez opened the scoring in the first half after missing a penalty opportunity.

Suarez burst past the visiting defence, but as he went to round Simon Mignolet in the Sunderland goal, he was brought down by Kieran Richardson inside the area. The striker recovered to take the spot kick, but his effort went well over the bar.

Five minutes after the missed penalty, Suarez put Liverpool ahead on the 12^th minute, cleverly heading in from a sweeping Charlie Adam free-kick.

In the second half, Larsson produced a moment of magic to equal the score on the 57^th minute. A throw-in on the right was passed back to Sessegnon, whose cross to the back post was brilliantly volleyed in by the Swede, who was fully horizontal when striking the ball back across Reina and into the far corner.

In other matches Gervinho was sent off on his Arsenal debut for hitting Joey Barton as Newcastle held the Gunners to a 0-0 draw at St James' Park.

The Ivory Coast international was dismissed 14 minutes from time after lashing out after Barton accused him of diving in the penalty area.

QPR endured a nightmare return to the top flight as they were thrashed 4-0 by Bolton.

Promoted side Norwich enjoyed a better opening game after they drew 1-1 at Wigan.

Wolves came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory at Blackburn.

Alex McLeish had new signing Shay Given to thank for preventing his first game in charge of Aston Villa from ending in defeat at Fulham, the match ended goalless.