Two Premier League sides eager to bounce back meet at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday night, as Sunderland host reigning champions Liverpool. The reverse fixture at Anfield over two months ago ended 1-1, thanks to a late own goal from Nordi Mukiele rescuing a point for Arne Slot’s Reds.
Liverpool came close to taking three points in Sunday’s thriller against Manchester City, only for Dominik Szoboszlai’s brilliant free-kick to be cancelled out by Bernardo Silva before Erling Haaland converted a 93rd-minute penalty to seal a 2-1 win for the visitors.
Dropping late points has been a recurring issue for the Reds—they have now conceded four 90th-minute winners this season, matching the joint-highest for a team with 13 games remaining. After eight Premier League defeats so far, double last season’s total, Liverpool find themselves sixth in the table, five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United, with Champions League qualification at risk.
Formally, the Merseysiders have just one win in their last seven league matches (D4 L2), but they do have a strong record against promoted sides, remaining unbeaten in their last 19 top-flight encounters (W14 D5). On the flip side, their away form is troubling—just two wins in the last ten Premier League away games, with 21 goals conceded across 12 matches, more than bottom-side Wolves. Historically, all three league defeats to Sunderland have come away from home, though they are unbeaten in their last five trips to the Stadium of Light (W3 D2).
Sunderland, meanwhile, have been inconsistent recently, with three wins, four draws, and three losses in their last ten league games. After a comfortable 3-0 home victory over Burnley, they were humbled by the same scoreline at Arsenal last weekend, dropping to ninth in the standings, just three points shy of Liverpool in sixth.
At home, the Black Cats are formidable. They have collected 72.2% of their league points at the Stadium of Light this season (26/36), making them the only Premier League team yet to lose on home soil. Their 12-game unbeaten start is the longest for a promoted team since Nottingham Forest in 1977-78. Sunderland have also beaten three of their last five top-flight home opponents who were reigning champions, including wins over Chelsea (May 2016) and Leicester City (Dec 2016).
However, history is not entirely on Sunderland’s side they are winless in their last 11 league meetings with Liverpool (D5 L6) since a 1-0 victory in March 2012, and have scored just 19 goals in 33 top-flight games against the Reds (0.6 per game). Only Middlesbrough (0.5 vs Chelsea) have a lower goals-per-game average when facing an opponent at least 30 times.
Recent Form
Sunderland – Premier League: D L W L W LSunderland – All Competitions: L W W L W L
Liverpool – Premier League: D D D L W L
Liverpool – All Competitions: D W L W W L
Team News
Sunderland:Granit Xhaka and January signing Jocelin Ta Bi are out with ankle injuries. Bertrand Traore (knee) is yet to feature since returning from AFCON; a late decision will determine his involvement.
Expected midfield: Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra, with Enzo Le Fee as the playmaker behind striker Brian Brobbey, who has scored three of his five league goals at home.
Wingers: Trai Hume on the right, Chemsdine Talbi on the left. Talbi could become the first Sunderland player to score in both home and away matches against Liverpool since 1980-81.
Liverpool:
Alexander Isak (leg), Jeremie Frimpong (thigh), Conor Bradley (knee), and Giovanni Leoni (knee) are injured, while Joe Gomez (hip) is unavailable. Szoboszlai serves a one-match ban after his red card against Man City, likely allowing Curtis Jones to cover at right-back.
Attack: Mohamed Salah (scoreless since Nov 1), Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, and Hugo Ekitike (one goal in last six league games) are expected to start.
Predicted Lineups
Sunderland (4-3-3):Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Sadiki, Diarra; Hume, Le Fee, Talbi; Brobbey
Liverpool (4-3-3):
Alisson; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Expected Predictions
Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool
