Young and dangerous Villa

Ashley Young made Sunderland pay for conceding two free-kicks in as Aston Villa came from behind to win 2-1.

The Black Cats had taken the lead through Djibril Cisse after 10 minutes but Young quickly retaliated from 20 yards out after being brought down by Liam Miller.

Then Anton Ferdinand handled just outside the box and Young's deflected free-kick found John Carew, via Stiliyan Petrov, and he grabbed the winner after 33 minutes.

But Villa were left hanging on for much of the second half as their fifth match in only 13 days appeared to take its toll.

The Black Cats enjoyed plenty of possession with Steed Malbranque impressing in midfield, while substitute Daryl Murphy also made a telling impact.

But captain Martin Laursen was again a rock solid performer at the heart of the Villa back four while Petrov and Gareth Barry caught the eye in midfield.

And on days when they are not at their best Villa can always rely on the potency of players like Carew, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young.

The first half-chance fell to Sunderland with Liam Miller controlling a low cross from Pascal Chimbonda and turning past Barry in inside the penalty area but his weak angled shot was easily dealt with by Brad Friedel.

Laursen had a good opportunity to put Villa in front when he found himself completely unmarked in the centre from a Barry corner but directed his header straight at Craig Gordon.

It was a prove a costly miss as within 60 seconds Sunderland had taken the lead through Cisse's second goal of the season.

The influential Malbranque made a powerful run forward before releasing his French compatriot who nipped in between Laursen and Curtis Davies and planted a low shot past Friedel.

Villa attempted to strike back quickly but Carew was high and wide with a shot on the turn, although in the 18th minute Young brought them back on level terms with a stunning free-kick.

The former Watford player was brought down 20 yards out by Miller but picked himself up to drill a curling effort past the stranded Gordon into the corner of the net.

Then in the 33rd minute Villa went ahead through Carew with Sunderland again paying the penalty for conceding a set-piece some 20 yards out.

Anton Ferdinand handled unnecessarily and this time Young's free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall.

But Petrov seized the loose ball, managed to drill a low cross into the danger area and the sharp Carew flicked it past Gordon for his fifth goal of the campaign.

Villa were now in the ascendancy and Barry climbed to meet a cross from Luke Young but his header flew straight at Gordon.

Carew showed his pace in getting to the byline and his eventual cross was spilled by Gordon but he recovered to block the follow-up shot from Barry.

Fourth official Steve Bennett took over the running of the line for the second period as referee's assistant Alan Williams was injured.

Sunderland began the second half promisingly and Miller was only just too high with a dipping 30-yard effort.

Roy Keane made a double substitution after 59 minutes, replacing El-Hadji Diouf and Miller with Daryl Murphy and Andy Reid respectively.

Agbonlahor nearly made Sunderland captain Dean Whitehead pay after robbing him in possession and his shot was deflected just past Gordon's right-hand post.

O'Neill brought on James Milner for Nicky Shorey with 20 minutes remaining and he immediately created a chance for Barry whose volley was only just too high.

Toffees get Torre-rised

Fernando Torres shrugged off his Euro 2008 hangover to score twice to beat 10-man Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside derby.

The Spain international had managed just one goal all season before Saturday's match.

He got himself booked at Goodison Park, argued with referee Mike Riley about the heavy-handed treatment he was getting from Everton's defenders and then hit back where it hurts.

Torres volleyed home his first after 59 minutes and cracked in the second three minutes later.

Everton have still to win at home this season and had Tim Cahill sent off with 10 minutes to go to cap a miserable day for David Moyes' side.

The hosts had full-back Tony Hibbert back for the first time this season after a knee ligament operation in the summer, while midfielder Mikel Arteta had recovered from a virus to play.

Liverpool were without Javier Mascherano, with a calf problem, and fielded the side that drew 0-0 with Stoke last weekend.

An interested observer in the directors' box was Standard Liege boss Laszlo Boloni, who was preparing for this week's UEFA Cup tie but also watching former player Marouane Fellaini in his first derby.

The midfielder probably won his move to Goodison Park after two excellent performances against Liverpool in the Champions League.

Fellaini was first into referee Mike Riley's book after just nine minutes for a foul on Alvaro Arbeloa.

Everton should have been ahead after 14 minutes when Cahill failed to make a decent connection to Arteta's corner from just six yards.

With Ayegbeni Yakubu up front and Arteta and Cahill attacking from deep it meant Liverpool had the majority of possession as Everton sat back and tried to hit them on the break.

It almost succeeded after 26 minutes when Joleon Lescott's cross was dropped by Jose Reina under minimal pressure from Fellaini, who spun to strike a fierce shot that Jamie Carragher somehow blocked on the line.

But referee Riley had spotted an infringement and awarded a free-kick.

Xabi Alonso was booked for blocking an Arteta run on the right before Robbie Keane almost created a scoring opportunity for Dirk Kuyt, arriving late in the box.

Yakubu was booked three minutes into the second half for diving in the box having pushed the ball past Martin Skrtel before plunging to the floor.

Two minutes later Riley booked Torres, who had questioned the referee's decisions throughout the first half, for a foul on Lescott.

But the Spaniard finally channelled his annoyance into the game and saw a 20-yard strike go just wide before Gerrard was much closer from slightly further out.

Albert Riera should have done better when presented with a shooting chance by Keane but when Torres was denied a clear opportunity, having shrugged off Phil Jagielka, Riley was again on his case, awarding a fortunate free-kick to the hosts.

But after 59 minutes Torres got his own back. Arbeloa robbed Arteta far too easily on the touchline and quick passing involving Riera and Alonso released Keane on the left.

The Irishman's cross to the far post was met beautifully on the volley by Torres to beat Tim Howard.

Three minutes later Torres was celebrating again. Liverpool surged forward again and when Jagielka's tackle 10 yards out stopped Keane in his tracks, the ball fell for Torres to smash into the top corner.

Torres scored again seconds later but the effort was ruled out by referee Riley.

Arbeloa was booked after 85 minutes for a retaliatory kick at Cahill after a tussle between the pair before Yakubu missed an open goal as Leon Osman's cross flashed in front of him.

Five minutes later Cahill was sent off. Referee Riley showed him a red card for a late challenge on Alonso.

It was the eighth red card in the last eight derbies, and the 17th in 33 Premier League clashes between the clubs.

Substitute Louis Saha fired a 25-yard shot just wide in the dying minutes but that was the closest Everton came all time.

Asif can play in Ramazan T20

The PCB has said Mohammad Asif was free to play in the Ramazan Twenty20 tournament as they were not organised by the Board.

"The suspension on him is from taking part in any cricket activity organised by the board. This is a private festival Ramazan tournament so he can play in it," PCB spokesman Mansoor Sohail said.

Twenty five-year-old Asif, who has been suspended by the Board after he tested positive in a dope test during the Indian Premier League, has been playing for a club side in a high profile Ramazan event in Karachi which is drawing big crowds.

Some former players have questioned Asif's appearance in the tournament as the Board had said he would remain suspended from all cricket activities until the dope case is decided by the drugs inquiry tribunal of the IPL in India.

Asif and his lawyer have been asked for a hearing before the IPL drugs panel on October 11 in India after the pacer's "B" sample also tested positive for a banned substance nandrolone.

However, Asif said he was confident of being cleared in the latest doping offence scandal and maintained he was being framed in controversies and defamed by some people who didn't want him to see play for Pakistan.

"My lawyer and my doctor have prepared a strong defence for me and I am confident that when the IPL tribunal hearing is held I will be cleared of any doping offence," Asif said. "I have never used any banned substance in my life so I don't know how these tests came positive," he added.

Asif said he himself wanted the case to be resolved as soon as possible so that he could resume his international career and play for Pakistan again.

"It has been a great experience playing in front of these big crowds and they have been very supportive so I know the people are behind me and believe my innocence," he added.

Tendulkar declared fit for Test series

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has been declared fit for the four-Test series against Australia in October.

"A report submitted by Paul Close (National Cricket Academy physio) states that the player has recovered fully from his elbow injury. Tendulkar will join the camp (at Bangalore from September 30) prior to the series," a BCCI media release said.

Tendulkar suffered the elbow injury while fielding in the third Test against Sri Lanka in August and has not played any competitive cricket since then.

He was named in the Rest of India squad, now playing in the Irani Cup tie against Ranji winners Delhi at Vadodara, before pulling out of the match on medical advice following a feeling of slight stiffness in the injured joint.