SUNDERLAND, England - Lazar Markovics first Premier League goal gave Liverpool a 1-0 win against 10-man Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.Markovic converted from close range in the ninth minute in a dominant first-half display from Brendan Rodgers side.Sunderland had Liam Bridcutt sent off at the start of the second half, yet it almost equalized when Adam Johnson hit the crossbar with a long range strike.But Liverpool stifled any pressure to take three points that boosts its pursuit of a top-four finish and hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.It remains eighth in the table, but has lost once in its last 12 and is now four points behind Southampton, which is fourth and plays third-place Manchester United on Sunday.I think our confidence is returning, Liverpool manager Rodgers said. When we had to defend, we defended strongly and its great victory for us that keeps our momentum going.Defeat leaves Sunderland three points above the relegation zone with the rest of the teams around it still to play on the weekend.After an energetic start, Liverpool could have had a penalty after three minutes.Markovic tumbled over under a challenge from Wes Brown, but referee Craig Pawson ignored appeals for a spot kick.Sunderlands defence was struggling to pick up the positions of Liverpools three-pronged attack of Fabio Borini, Steven Gerrard and Markovic, and six minutes later Liverpool made its breakthrough.The lively Markovic took advantage of Pawsons decision to play advantage after Borini was cut down on the edge of the area by John OShea, and he was first to the loose ball before tucking it under Sunderland goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon.Markovic was denied a second on the half-hour when he met a clearance out of the penalty area with a stunning volley, only for the ball to hit the crossbar.Striker Borini, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland, was handed a rare start by Rodgers and looked keen to make the most of his opportunity.His link-up play in the first half was efficient, his movement caused confusion in Sunderlands defence but he missed a superb chance to score just before the interval.Borini surged past Brown to reach a tremendous through ball from Emre Can and rounded goalkeeper Pantilimon before hitting the post with the angle to the goal shrinking.Liverpool captain Gerrard was substituted at halftime with a leg problem, as Dejan Lovren came on, but Rodgers side retained its intensity by moving Can further forward.Instantly, he caused Sunderland problems with a bursting run down the right in the 49th, before he was abruptly halted when Bridcutt hauled him down.Bridcutt had been booked in the first half for tripping Gerrard, and was shown his second yellow of the game as Sunderland went to 10 men.But the dismissal galvanized the hosts into attacking Liverpool, and Johnsons long range shot from 25 yards rattled the crossbar after swerving through the wind and wrong-footing goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.To the dismay of Sunderland manager Gus Poyet, it was as close as his team got to an equalizer.Second half, we went for it and created a little bit of nerves for Liverpool, Poyet said. We were not better than Liverpool in terms of position or possession, we were not better in the first half in terms of desire. Nike Roshe Clearance Sale . -- LeGarrette Blount wasnt satisfied with three short touchdown runs, not against a team coming off the second greatest comeback in playoff history. Cheap Nike Roshes For Sale . Fans holding laudatory signs started showing up at Yankee Stadium when the gates opened at 4 p.m. Monday, an hour early in order to give them a chance to watch the New York captain take batting practice. http://www.nikeroshecheap.com/. Nick Holden scored two goals and had an assist and the Avalanche held off the Nashville Predators 5-4 Saturday night for their fourth straight victory. Cheap Nike Roshes .ca. Kerry, I hope you address Ron MacLeans comment during the second intermission of Game 4 in Montreal-Tampa series. Basically, he suggested that the NHL should not have used a referee from Quebec, following the Game 3 disputed non-goal, because the referee could be biased towards Montreal. Nike Roshe Sneakers On Sale . The Mavericks were not going to let San Antonio beat them with 3-pointers, and they did not want Tony Parker using the lane as his personal playground.HAMILTON - Solid goaltending from Jacob Markstrom helped the San Antonio Rampage beat the Hamilton Bulldogs 4-1 Monday in the American Hockey League. Markstrom made 30 saves and Colby Robak, Drew Shor, Dylan Olsen and Vincent Trocheck scored for the Rampage (22-21-8). Patrick Holland had the lone goal for the Bulldogs (22-23-5), who have lost seven of their last nine games. Robert Mayer stopped 26 shots in the losing effort. San Antonio opened on a power play as Robak took a pass from Greg Rallo and released a high, heavy shot over Mayers shoulder at 9:16 of the first period. The Bulldogs used the forecheck to score the tying goal at 18:48 as Martin St. Pierre flicked a centring pass in front that clipped the skate of Holland as he skated through the slot and slid past Markstrom. But it took less tthan a minute for the Rampage to break the deadlock in the second period on an odd-man rush with Rallo shooting and Shore swatting in the rebound just 23 seconds into the period.dddddddddddd Less than two minutes later, San Antonio doubled its lead when Olsens wrist shot caught Mayer by surprise and beat him through the five hole at 2:01. Hamilton head coach Sylvain Lefebvre called a time out to settle his group. Hamilton had a chance to cut the deficit 10 minutes into the period when Christian Thomas stole the puck in the low slot and snapped a wrist shot over Markstroms crossbar. Trocheck put the game away when he scored into the empty net at 18:24. Hamiltons power play was shut out for the second straight game, as the Bulldogs went 0-4 with the man advantage. San Antonio was 1-1. ' ' '