Match: Liverpool vs Sunderland
Venue: Anfield
Date: Saturday 26th November 2016
Time: 15:00 BST
Referee: Anthony Taylor
A goalless draw at Southampton might be looked back as a point gained later in the season, but Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool faithful will have been disappointed they didn't convert the chances they created in that game. They have been very strong at Anfield this season and Liverpool can't afford to drop points again this weekend if there is a genuine belief they can challenge for the Premier League title.
The result last weekend knocked Liverpool off the top of the table, but they are 2nd in the Premier League and only a point behind Chelsea with a chance to pressure The Blues who are playing later on Saturday afternoon. It has been very good at Anfield for Liverpool so far this season who have a 4-1-0 record here after scoring 17 goals and conceding 4 goals.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions and have won 10 of those games. However the draw with Southampton did snap a run of 4 consecutive wins. The Reds have won 3 in a row at Anfield in all competitions since their goalless draw with Manchester United.
Adam Lallana looks to be doubtful for this game this weekend.
Sunderland
Another poor start to a season has left David Moyes under pressure at Sunderland and with rumours that Sam Allardyce could be re-employed to help The Black Cats avoid the drop again. There have been some solid performances with Sunderland perhaps not getting the rub of the green, but those performances have turned into positive results in their last couple of games.
The side go into this weekend in 19th place in the Premier League, but Sunderland have improved to 8 points on the season which means they are back in touch with the teams above them. However it is a big task to get a result at Anfield when you think Sunderland have a 1-1-4 away record having scored 4 goals and conceded 8 in those games.
On the other hand, Sunderland can't have been feeling as good as they should be now in some time after beating Bournemouth and Hull City in back to back games. That is only the second time they have won consecutive games in the last twelve months. Sunderland had lost 3 in a row away from home in all competitions before the win at Bournemouth in their most recent game on their travels.
Paddy McNair joins Lee Cattermole as a long term absentee for David Moyes' team. Papy Djilobodji is suspended, but Jason Denayer, Jack Rodwell, Jan Kirchhoff and Sebastian Larsson are all hoping to return to the squad.
Head to Head
Two goals in the last ten minutes helped Sunderland escape with a 2-2 draw at Anfield last season, but it was Liverpool who had won earlier in the season at The Stadium of Light.
Liverpool are unbeaten in 18 games at Anfield against Sunderland, but 4 of the last 6 have ended in draws including the last 2 games here.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 3-1 romp by Liverpool.
Liverpool starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Karius; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Can; Mane, Firmino, Coutinho
Sunderland starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Pickford; Jones, Koné, Jones, van Aanholt; McNair, Denayer; Watmore, Ndong, Anichebe; Defoe
