Reds Face O'Neill's Sunderland

Let's hope we don't have to rely on a penalty again haha...
Liverpool travel to the Stadium Of Light on Saturday to face a renewed Sunderland side. Martin O'Neill's side are almost unrecognisable compared to the side Steve Bruce was managing earlier in the season and Liverpool will surely be looking for a victory in a game which they drew at the start of the season.

That's right folks, the fixtures are at the reverse stage. It's annoying that instead of watching it in 30 degrees heat in an Irish bar in Majorca that I'll have to watch it in my living room this time out though!

Liverpool are without Daniel Agger for this clash but Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson are expected to be back in the line up. For Sunderland they are without Cattermole and Sessegnon who are both serving bans and Richardson is also a doubt for the black cats.

Sunderland's last game saw them pick up a point in the Tyne & Wear derby. Before that though, they fell to a shocking defeat when Roy Hodgson's West Bromwich Albion beat them 4-0.

Liverpool's last two games in the league have seen them fall to defeat at the hands of both Arsenal and Manchester United despite good performances.

Stat Sandwich

  • Liverpool haven't lost three Premier League games in a row since 2003.
  • O'Neill has won once in his last eight Premier League games as a manager facing Liverpool.
  • Liverpool have hit the post and bar 21 times this season in the league.

After an inspired yet frustrating performance against Arsenal it would be brilliant for the Reds to pick up three points here. It's quite clear that goalscoring is a problem at the moment and the woodwork stat just shows the low levels of accuracy and perhaps high levels of bad luck that Liverpool are experiencing in the league.

If Glen Johnson starts hopefully that will aid the attack down the flanks and perhaps up the game with the crosses being sent in. Just lately it appears Dirk Kuyt has actually got the best one on him and considering we purchased Downing for this purpose, i think it's time some practice was put in.

Suarez and Carroll are crying out for some help from the wings but the delivery just isn't up to scratch at the moment.

I'd take a punt at 1-0 for Liverpool. The defence is reliable and i reckon we should be able to grab a goal.

Enjoy the match folks!