Liverpool entertain Gus Poyet’s Sunderland side on Saturday afternoon. Sunderland’s run doesn’t get any easier, as they had to take on all three of the last year’s Premier League top three, in the space of one week. They got one point so far, they will be looking to make it two or four come Saturday.
Liverpool, after an awful start to the season, have shown signs of kicking on in this Premier League campaign. They have maximum points in their last couple of games, with wins over Stoke and Leicester, respectively.
Sunderland’s star man towards the end of last season, Connor Wickham, has shown signs of returning to the form that effectively kept the Black Cats in the top flight. Wickham managed to get the game’s first goal in the 4-1 demolition given to them by Manchester City in midweek. Wickham will be looking to score against the reds, who were once interested in Wickham’s services.
Lee Cattermole is also a key player for Sunderland. Cattermole is a player whose quality isn’t noticed as much as say, Wickham. Lucas Leiva at Liverpool could be a similar comparison. However, without Cattermole in their eleven, Sunderland don’t look as good of a side.
Wickham and Cattermole
(SAFC.com)
Liverpool’s win against Leicester showed tremendous character and fighting spirit. At the heart of that was Steven Gerrard. The skipper played in a more offensive role than usual, and he was terrific, especially in the second-half. I have a feeling that Gerrard won’t feature on Saturday. The rest he had before the Leicester game clearly was good for his performance. Liverpool have a massive game against Basel on Tuesday and I think Rodgers will perhaps rest Gerrard’s legs for the Champions League clash on Tuesday.
Adam Lallana was another one of Liverpool’s key men on Tuesday. Lallana needs to start this game, for me. I think when Lallana has played so far, he’s done really well. There’s always a goal in him, too, or an assist. He took his goal terrifically on Tuesday night, after linking up well with Rickie Lambert.
Balotelli will most likely remain on the sidelines with an injury, and Rickie Lambert deserves to keep his place in the eleven. Lambert will be looking to grab his first Anfield goal on Saturday. However, is there a case for Fabio Borini? The Italian has hardly featured recently and Lambert may need a rest if he wants to take part on Tuesday night’s enormous game.
Philippe Coutinho will start this game, I think. Coutinho didn’t play a part in Tuesday night’s win. The Brazilian has been one of Liverpool’s best players of late, too. Coutinho did brilliantly against Sunderland last season and I think the little magician will have another field day.
Raheem Sterling is looking back to his best. He caused the Leicester defence havoc on Tuesday and was constantly looking a massive danger to the defence. Sterling is on a bit of a goal drought and I think a goal on Saturday would allow him to kick on at this vital point of the season.
Lucas Leiva and Jordan Henderson in the midfield two. Both of these were fantastic in midweek. Lucas is looking an important part of this Liverpool side, all of a sudden. Henderson is looking to return to his form of last season, too. The English midfielder has two goals in his last three games.
Alberto Moreno and Glen Johnson would be the two full-backs I’d start with. I thought Moreno did well when he came on against Leicester recently. He looked a bit more defensive minded than usual. Rodgers must have had a word with him about that, so the side can become better at seeing out games for the win.
Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel have to start. It’s not a coincidence that we’ve won our last two games with those two in the starting eleven. I don’t know how Dejan Lovren will be getting back in the side. But at the moment, I’d rather Toure and Skrtel in the centre of the defence.
This is the side I’d start with:
(fanscorners.com/liverpool/squad-selector/)
Bobby Vincent
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