Liverpool go away to the Stadium of Light on Saturday to face Sunderland. It’s the early kick-off in the Premier League this week.
Liverpool will be looking to bounce back to winning ways in the Premier League after a disappointing 2-2 draw with Leicester on New Year’s Day. However, the side did win on Monday night, in the F.A Cup, in a difficult away, 2-1 victory at AFC Wimbledon.
Sunderland also won in the F.A Cup in a narrow 1-0 victory over Championship side, Leeds United. They unfortunately lost to Manchester City, though. The Black Cats went away to the Etihad Stadium and put in a spirited performance, narrowly losing, 3-2.
Lee Cattermole and Jack Rodwell are both doubts for the home side. Liverpool are still without Daniel Sturridge, Joe Allen, Adam Lallana and Brad Jones. Dejan Lovren, though, returns to the squad, but is unlikely to start. Raheem Sterling isn’t going to be involved as he isn’t the the match day squad. Sterling has spent the week on holiday in Jamaica, in an attempt to prevent ‘burnout’, which is common with some young athletes.
Sunderland manager, Gus Poyet
(safc.com)
There’s a rumoured team doing the rounds on social media websites such as Twitter. Here it is:
(www.fanscorners.com/liverpool/squad-selector/)
The immediate selection that grabs your attention with that team should be the man up top, Fabio Borini. The only reason I can think that Rodgers is playing him is because he perhaps will be fired up due to it being his old club. Raheem Sterling would have started this game if he was around. It really doesn’t look good for fellow Italian striker, Mario Balotelli. Does it?
Steven Gerrard keeps his place in the side and should be starting in a more advanced role, something I’m pleased with. With Lallana injured, Gerrard is an ideal replacement and he performed fantastically against AFC Wimbledon on Monday night, albeit a lower league side. Philippe Coutinho, who has just been named Standard Chartered Player of the Month for December, also keeps his place. You can probably guess by the title of the award, the number 10 has been significant in Liverpool’s slight increase in form.
It looks quite attacking with both Lazar Markovic and Alberto Moreno. But I think that’s a good thing. We need to get at them from the start and dominate the game. I can’t stand watching away games when we sit back and play more defensive. For instance, the first-half against Burnley. It just invites pressure on our not so good defence. If we get at them and grab the game by the scruff of the neck, we should win comfortably.
Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva start in midfield. Will Lucas be distracted by the reports that Inter Milan are interested in the recently turned 28 year-old? Lucas is a great professional, and I think he’ll still have a good performance in him. The Brazilian has been a key figure in Liverpool’s side of late. Henderson’s performances have improved significantly since moving back into the middle. So I’m pleased he’s there, instead of right wing-back.
Mamadou Sakho has been impressing Brendan Rodgers with his excellent performances recently, which is pleasing. I think this is the first time that Sakho has impressed Rodgers properly since joining in the summer of 2013. Emre Can and Martin Skrtel’s performances have been good, too. I’m glad Lovren isn’t coming back in yet and unsettling a rather settled defence at the moment.
Simon Mignolet starts against his former-club. Brad Jones is still out of action with an injury, so Danny Ward is likely to be on the bench for the game.
I think Liverpool will win, with both teams to score. 3-1 Liverpool and Steven Gerrard to get a brace, again.
Bobby Vincent
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