Match Day Thread Liverpool FC v Sunderland AFC - Wednesday 3rd December 2025 - KO 20:15

Sunderland travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League.
Last time out Sunderland beat Bournemouth and Liverpool beat West Ham.
Sunderland came from behind to win 3-2 after Bournemouth took an early 2-0 lead during a torrential downpour on Wearside.
Amine Adli's close-range finish and Tyler Adams' stunning goal from the halfway line gave Bournemouth a 2-0 lead, Enzo Le Fee's penalty and Bertrand Traore's low strike put Sunderland level, and substitute, Brian Brobbey, headed in Le Fee's 69th-minute corner to complete the Black Cats' turnaround. Romaine Mundle made his premier league debut coming on from the bench. Bournemouth's Lewis Cook was shown a 96th-minute red card for elbowing Noah Sadiki.
Alexander Isak scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool since his record £125m move, as Arne Slot's side ended their wretched run with a much-needed victory at West Ham United.
The Reds ended a dismal sequence of nine defeats in 12 games - their worst since 1954 - with a deserved success. Arne Slot dropped Mo Salah from a league starting line-up for the first time since April 2024, and was rewarded with a much-improved display.
Liverpool then added the second goal that their superiority deserved when Gakpo finished well in stoppage time, moving up to eighth place in the table, three points off the top four.
Regis le Bris:
“We have a big week, but this is exactly the challenges that we want to face. Nothing is played before the game, but anything is possible. You play with your identity, we don’t know the scenario before and we will see.”
“Today we have shown that even with a bad scenario, it was a tough start, everything is possible, and we changed the dynamic.”
“So maybe it will happen at Liverpool.”

Presser on Tuesday at 13:30

Arne Slot:
"I get asked this question a lot (why was Salah left out)
“Mo has had an unbelievable career and will have a very good future at this club because he’s such a special player, but when you have four games in 10 days you have to decide once in a while on a certain line-up.”
“The way they set up with a full-back that’s constantly high and a winger who’s inside, I thought this would help the team,” he said, the implication being that he doubted Salah’s capacity to perform the necessary defensive work.

Form:


Match Appointments:
Referee: STUART ATWELL
Assistant Referee: Constantine Hatzidakis
Assistant Referee: Adrian Holmes
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone
Video Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood
Additional Video Assistant Referee: Matthew Donohue

Team Lineups:
Sunderland AFC: Roefe, Reinildo, Ballard, Alderete, Mukiele, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fee, Traore, Talbi, Isidor.

Subs: Patterson, Geertruida, Hume, Neil, Rigg, Adingra, Mayenda, Mundle, Brobbey.
Injured: Alese, Cirkin, Hjelde, Diarra.

Liverpool FC: Alisson, Gomez, Konate, van Dyke, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Endo, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Ekitike, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Injured: Leoni, Bradley, Frimpong.



Betting Odds:
Sunderland 13/2 Liverpool 1/3 Draw 4/1

My two pence:
Liverpool are struggling at the moment and this is our opportunity to finally get one over them. Looking at their playing style we should be using the long throws to put pressure on their defenders and look to break on the counter attack as often as possible, but we do need to defend against their wing play. I wouldn’t be surprised if we reverted to 5 at the back for this one, but I’d rather keep the same side with maybe Brobbey starting and then unleash Isidor and Mayenda with 30 minutes left.
I’m going for a 1-0 away win

Live Stream:
Sky Sports Premier League

Ha’way the Lads

 

The Bournemouth fans, on their way to Edinburgh airport, were praising your threads mate, thought you'd like to know.

 

I’m going for a win, not out of expectation or arrogance but as I’ve mentioned before this group have shown time after time they work their ****in knackers off even when 2 down. Throw in the skill they have and anything is possible. It’ll be another good game for the neutral I reckon, 2-1 us.
I’d start Brobbey in this one then get the Wizardors pace on for 30 minutes.

 

I've nicked this from a different thread cos it deserves to be seen imo.

 

Come on Sunderland!

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Great thread as always RTB, I really think we can compete in this game, like has already been said, not arrogance but pure grit and determination from our team, that result in Saturday was monumental for us and really showed the strength we have as a team under adverse conditions.

I would like to see Brobby start to bully their back 4 and have Isidor come off the bench to run at tired legs, I’m going for a draw which would be an amazing result but I would love us to get the win, whatever outcome I’ve been so impressed with the team, back room staff and fans this season, long may it continue, haway, haway, haway

 

Time for Brobbey to start?

I expect RLB to make a few changes for this one.

 

I would guess so. Think everything else could remain the same as Saturday, though. Maybe Hume back in at RB, and Talbi rotated?

 

Aye, I think the back 5 will return.

 

Great thread as always @RTB. Thanks for the excellent read and quick turnaround from the weekend fixture.

No head in the clouds here, they are a good side going through a bad patch, but we have shown an appetite to dig in when things are tough and still come away with a result. With the talent they have at their disposal they should win, but I'm not sure they will be expecting what we can do.

If we can avoid a repeat of the multiple brain farts involved Bournemouth's second goal on Saturday I could see us nicking this.

2-1 to the Lads.

Edit - Just noticed that Atwell is the ref. Hope that clown has a good game for once.

 

**** it, we'll tank them. 1-3

Lets get carried away!

 

Goosebumps. It’s exactly right though. Folk are taking notice of little old Sunderland. I’ve no doubt even if we do draw or lose that it won’t define our season.

having said that I’ve gone for the win! LET’S GET CARRIED AWAY MAN !

 

I see RTB has Ken Dodd’s lot as very strong attacking down the wing and us as weak defending attacks down the wing.
Points to a back 5 or what?

 

Talksport earlier suggesting that we are the most important club in the PL this season. They're expecting Leeds and Burnley to go back down, but we have broken the mould and are showing how great recruitment and coaching can result in a team coming up from the Championship.... and staying up.
Nice to hear!

 

Definitely feel that’ll be the case, along with Wolves. I would’ve liked all 3 promoted sides to stay up though, personally.

 

odds for sadiki and xhaka both to be carded?

 

I got 12/1 on B365, backed it.

 

not bad odds that,

 

I would prefer a similar side as against Bournmouth, we need to be attacking not defending with 5 players. Thoes top managers will have already sussed that defensive tactic out and be ready for it with a counter.I would start Brobbey up front as the lads on a roll, and Mundel on the wing i thought he offered a lot more than we have had there latley.The Saturday home game had my pulse going, and lots of jumping up and down when we attacked,it was a wonderful sight to behold, not a nail biting time watching the defence and hoping nothing bad to happens like a goal or touching cloth if they score. so up and at em lads .Thanks for a great thread RTB