Sunderland vs Liverpool Preview

Sunderland vs Liverpool Preview

Liverpool head to the Stadium of Light on Saturday, looking to add to their less than impressive points tally against draw specialists Sunderland.

 

So what will Liverpool’s New Year’s resolution be? Win a few games might be a good start for Brendan Rodgers side who have struggled to reach the heights of last season. It seems like every time Liverpool win a game this year all of us Liverpool fans exclaim about how this will be the springboard for big things this season. Despite the last five league games only producing two wins there have been improvements of late, including a return to decent from of the ever so important Raheem Sterling.

 

This could prove to be crucial for a Liverpool side this season struggling for goals this season. At a mere 28 goals this season so far averaging 1.4 goals per game (compared to the mammoth 2.7 goals per game last year) and his goals would surely be critical in any challenge for a champions league place.

 

While encouraging form is nice what Liverpool need right now are results. Yes the F.A. cup win is a start, but it’ll mean nothing if it isn’t followed up with a win this weekend against a Sunderland side who often seem to prefer to draw their matches.

 

Being only three points above the relegation zone will make them want to start picking up wins fast and they may fancy their chances against a Liverpool side who have only won four of their nine away league games this season.

 

However they go into the game on the back of a 3 - 2 loss to champions Manchester City in an impressive performance that saw them come back from 2 - 0 down before a Frank Lampard goal spared City’s blushes. Despite the narrow loss, they will surely take confidence from this performance.

 

Liverpool’s team is likely to be similar to the one that played in mid-week, with the exception of the aforementioned Sterling being restored to the starting line-up. Adam Lallana joins Liverpool’s lengthening injury list and will miss the game with a thigh injury.

 

Last month’s player of the month for the reds, Philippe Coutinho will therefore be looked to in order to provide the spark and creativity alongside the soon to be leaving Steven Gerrard.

 

The reds can go to within four points of fourth placed Southampton with a win in Saturday’s early kick off but they surely cannot afford too many more slip ups if they wish to maintain a serious top four challenge.