Liverpool Vs Sunderland Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Match Apointments please log in to view this image Liverpool Team News Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hopeful that midfielder Philippe Coutinho and defender Jose Enrique should be fit for the weekend clash against Sunderland. The Merseyside club hosts the Black Cats in the Premier League fixture scheduled between two sides at Anfield on Sunday. The Reds have won the last two matches against Stoke City and Leicester City, ending their long winless streak. âPhilippe Coutinho had a slight issue with his knee during the week but he should be OK for the weekend,â Rodgers told reporters. âJose Enrique is back in. We are having to manage Jose and his games, but he has trained and should be available for the weekend. Everyone else, it is as it was.â Meanwhile, summer signing Mario Balotelli will miss Liverpoolâs upcoming clash, along with striker Daniel Sturridge, who has been out of action since September. Sunderland Team News WES BROWN and Adam Johnson are both expected to be available for Sunderlandâs trip to Liverpool tomorrow. Centre-half Brown was not risked in Wednesday nightâs defeat to Manchester City after suffering a knock in last weekendâs draw against Chelsea, which had kept him out of training. Replacement Sebastian Coates struggled against the exceptional Sergio Aguero, but with the on-loan Liverpool man ineligible to face his parent club tomorrow, Brown will resume his defensive partnership with John OâShea. Winger Johnson should also be back in the fold after missing the clash against his former club with a thigh injury, while on-loan Inter Milan midfielder Ricky Alvarez is in contention to start following his return from injury as a second half substiute on Wednesday. âWeâve got Wes Brown fit 100 per cent which is great,â said Sunderland boss Gus Poyet. âOf course, Sebber Coates is not available so Wes is going to be back. âProbably Jonno will be back as well. âRicky returned the other night too and he has that ability on the ball.â Striker Steven Fletcher is a doubt for the trip to Anfield after limping off against City with a back problem, following a heavy challenge from Dedryck Boyata. But regardless of the Scottish internationalâs fitness, Poyet plans to introduce fresh faces tomorrow after Sunderland looked heavy-legged against the reigning Premier League champions. Despite the 4-1 loss ending Sunderlandâs four-game unbeaten run though, Poyet says the Black Cats shouldnât be too despondent heading to Anfield after an impressive display from City. âI think we need to refresh the team, no doubt,â added Poyet. âThere are some players who need to step up and give us a hand in terms of legs. âWe need to be calm and try to go to Liverpool and get the three points. âWe need to improve dramatically technically from Manchester City. âBut we need to keep believing in what we do. âWeâve just played against the champions and they had Aguero on good form. You have to accept that.â Key Men please log in to view this image Liverpool- Jordan Henderson Henderson has had a quite a rise in terms of the respect the Liverpool faithful have for him since his first season at the club. His performances have improved dramatically, he has become one of Rodgersâ most reliable players as well as a fan favourite, and has been rightly awarded the role of vice-captain of the club this season. The midfielder has played in all but one of Liverpoolâs 14 league games this season and while has had his faults, he has still been one of the best players in the team. In his advanced midfield role, he has created 23 chances for his team mates and according to Squawka.com, three of these have resulted in assists. He has even scored two goals of his own. He has completed 593 passes, giving him a pass accuracy of 84%. Henderson has won 51% of his overall duels, with headed duels the only specific one he does not have a winning percentage in. He still has an affection for his old club but Sunderland will face a difficult challenge in midfield against Henderson. Sunderlandâ Sebastian Larsson Sunderland have not clicked going forward this season but that has not stopped Larsson from putting in some good performances. Having played in all of his clubâs league games so far this season. From his position in midfield, he has been able to create 28 chances for his team mates, two of which have resulted in assists. The midfielder has completed 433 passes in the league, giving him a pass accuracy of 84%. His overall duel victory percentage is only 44% although this is brought down by his limited success in headed duels and fouls suffered. Sunderland may find it hard against Liverpool but if any of their players can exploit the Reds defensive frailties, then you would think Larsson is the one to do it. Stats & Facts Head-to-head Liverpool have won their last three meetings with Sunderland and have lost just one of the last nine. Sunderland have not won at Anfield since October 1983, a run of 15 games (D7, L8) Liverpool Liverpool have won 70%, drawn 15% and lost 15% of their last 20 home games. Liverpool are aiming to win three Premier League matches in a row for the first time this season. The Reds have kept just three clean sheets this season. Their current tally of 20 points after 14 games is seven fewer than they had at this stage last season. Liverpool's last five Premier League goals have been scored by five different Englishmen. Liverpoolâs players have made 20 errors leading directly to a goal or attempt this season, more than any other side. Sunderland Sunderland have won 30%, drawn 35% and lost 35% of their last 20 away games. Sunderland are without a win in their last four league games - and have only won one of the last seven. Two of their three wins this season in all competitions have come away from home. Lee Cattermole has been booked in five of his last six Premier League appearances. Head to Head please log in to view this image Form please log in to view this image Last Corresponding Fixture please log in to view this image Betting http://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/liverpool-v-sunderland/winner Links http://www.liverpoolfc.com/travel/visiting-anfield http://www.visitliverpool.com/ Streaming http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=293068&part=sports
With Fletcher out I'd go; -----------------Pantilimon---------------- Vergini------Oshea----Brown-----Réveillère -----------Larsson--Cattermole------------ Johnson--------Alvarez------------Wickham -----------------Altidore-------------------- I think Gus will go; -----------------Pantilimon----------------- Vergini-----Oshea------Brown----Réveillère ----------------Cattermole------------------ Buckley-----Larsson-----Rodwell---Johnson -----------------Wickham-------------------
I think Gus will move Connor into the middle, drop Buckley, bring in Alvarez and Aj and have them interchanging the inside forward positions. Pantilimon O'Shea--------Brown Vergini---------------------------------Réveillère Cattermole Larsson---------Rodwell Johnson----------------------Alvarez Wickham
Id be alright with that team. I think the back 8 so to speak is nailed on its just his front 3 that's up for debate
I'd happy with that too. That front three is certainly the area we can never predict with Gus like, that and Rodwell's spot.
Gus Poyet faces a selection dilemma ahead of Saturday’s trip to Liverpool, after revealing that Steven Fletcher suffered a minor knock in Wednesday’s defeat to Manchester City. The Black Cats’ top scorer has found the net four times in the Barclays Premier League since the start of the campaign, whilst forging an impressive partnership with fellow striker Connor Wickham. Speaking to safc.com Poyet stated that the Scotland international will travel to Anfield, but the limits of his participation are yet to be determined. “Seb Coates is unavailable and Fletch had a knock that didn’t let him train with us, but he is going to be with us so it is a big decision to see if we start him or if we give a chance to another player. “There are some players that are doing well and they have been knocking on the door and heavy legs give you that chance, so it is not something that is going to be crazy but of course there are going to be a few options.” “I think we learnt a lot from the game on Wednesday,” continued Poyet. “It was a little bit more difficult than we were expecting, especially conceding straight away and with a few heavy legs. “We were also tired mentally so it was difficult to cope with that concentration, the level of their quality and tactically having three games in four days was quite tough.”
No reason why we can't win No Sturrige, no mario. So they will be relying on Lambert and/or Borini in attack. They still have some very good players, but no one that "special" imo (in the why Aguero is for Man City) Is Fletcher confirmed as being out ? if he is, then I hope Wickham and Altidore play, with AJ coming in for Buckley. I dont see Poyet starting with Alvarez.
I know we don't score many goals but I expect a comfortable win. They are utter sh*te. To be honest I would be disappointed if we only got a draw. Three points for the taking imo.
I think a draw is doable, but they aren't so hot and we should be going for them. I'd hate it if we didn't even try. No disgrace in losing there, but let's have a crack at the win, eh? I remember a couple of wins there back in the 80s, but it seems ages since we beat them at Anfield.
This game could go anyway. Neither of us are prolific atm are we?! I can see us dominating the first half, but if we don't get a goal I see you guys coming on strong leading to maybe a draw or even a win for you guys. Can also see us getting 1 goal and you lot equalising late on. How we perform in the opening 30 odd mins will dictate the result.
This looks OK, about right for now but it is not a team that will win too many games, but I will settle for keeping out of trouble at this stage
I think it's a better team than having donkey touch Wickham and hit and hope Buckley in our creative positions. We don't have the Fullbacks bringing the width to stretch teams at the moment so I believe we need our most creative available players in the inside forward positions at least until we have our width back. PVA against Stoke allowed Wickham to play more central by adding the width allowing Connor to get central. As good as Réveillère has been, he's on his wrong foot and he hasn't got the legs or pace to run the left hand side on his own. This means Conner has to drift wide which lets face it, he's not good enough to play that role. Much rather have Conner central until we have PVA back.
Spot on, but I wish Gus would try to accommodate Catts and Briddo together in some of our tougher games.
