Sunderland Vs Liverpool Official Sunderland Not606 Match Thread please log in to view this image Stadium Of Light please log in to view this image Prevew Glass half full or half empty? That's the question for Sunderland fans heading for the Stadium of Light this weekend, having witnessed six home draws already this season. In all four divisions, only Charlton and York have more home draws, but accentuating the positive must be getting harder after just one league win in 10, even if that win was at Newcastle. A month ago, these two teams drew 0-0 at Anfield, so is it odds-on another dividing up of the spoils? Well, don't be too sure - Liverpool haven't drawn at all away from home this season, one of only two teams among the 92 league clubs who can say that. Simon Mignolet and Jordan Henderson return to their former club with their careers having taken very different courses since moving to Anfield. Henderson has improved so much over the last 18 months, after a hesitant Liverpool start, that he is now the captain-in-waiting withSteven Gerrard LA-bound. In contrast, Mignolet is on borrowed time, and he knows it. Only injury to Brad Jones handed him a place back in the side afterhe was dropped "indefinitely"; he's done nothing since to suggest that he's worth a reprieve for any other reason than a lack of alternatives. In mitigation, Mignolet could reasonably suggest that he's playing behind a defence so brittle that the greatest goalkeepers in the world would do well to keep a clean sheet; as it is, he has only four of them in his last 32 games. Gus Poyet had a similar decision to make when he felt he had to drop Vito Mannone following the Italian's own crisis of confidence. Poyet's go-to man was Costel Pantilimon, who has since kept an impressive six clean sheets in 12 appearances, including that shut-out at Anfield. Another draw might frustrate both Sunderland and Liverpool, but the goalkeepers would probably gladly take 0-0. Match Apointments please log in to view this image Sunderland Team News Sunderland captain Lee Cattermole is still struggling with a groin injury, while Jack Rodwell will be given a fitness test on a hamstring problem. Anthony Reveillere could return after a calf injury but loanee Sebastian Coates is ineligible against his parent club. Liverpool Team News Liverpool's Adam Lallana has a calf injury, which could see the midfielder sidelined for up to a month. Forward Daniel Sturridge remains out but could return from long-term injury later this month. Stats & Facts Head to Head Sunderland have won just one of the last four times they have hosted Liverpool (W1, D1, L2). Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Sunderland (W3, D2). Sunderland Sunderland have only won one of their last 10 league games (W1, D6, L3). Their only league victory at the Stadium of Light this season was against Stoke at the beginning of October. The Black Cats have drawn 11 of their 20 league matches this season. They have won just three league games, the joint-lowest tally in the top flight. Gus Poyet's side have failed to score in nine of their 20 league matches this season. Only Aston Villa and Burnley have scored fewer than Sunderland's 10 home goals. They have accrued a league-high 52 yellow cards this season. Liverpool Liverpool have lost just one of their last eight league matches, a 3-0 defeat at Manchester United in December (W4, D3, L1). The Reds have conceded an average of 1.78 goals in their away matches this season (only Burnley and QPR have conceded more). Four times in this league campaign, Liverpool have conceded three goals away from home. While Sunderland are the Premier League's draw specialists, Liverpool are one of only two top-flight teams not to have drawn away from home this season. Previous League Meetings please log in to view this image Form please log in to view this image This Season's Reverse 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/sunderland-v-liverpool/winner Links http://www.safc.com/fans/visiting-fans Streaming http://xn--frstrowsports-39b.eu/soccer
Nice threads ......... shame about your fashion sense No reason we can't beat Liverpool, the entire focus will be on Mr Superfantasticwonderful. Stop him playing & refereeing the game and we'll be fine. 2-1 to the Lads, Haway Sunderland!!!!!
Pants Jones Vergini O'shea Pva Catts Johnson Rodwell Larsson Giacc Wickham 1-1 Mignolet clanger gives Wickham a soft goal. We sit back and Steeeevie Gee scores a daisy cutter from 25 yards.
Set up not to lose but no speed or firepower to hit them with in return. All the hallmarks of another draw for the draw specialists. Love to put one over on them though.
I'm going for a win here as they are two fairly well matched teams, but their defence can be very fragile as we showed at Anfield, so using that game as a yardstick and their recent results against lesser and more determined opposition.
I'd go with Pantillimon Jones-JOS-Brown-Van Aanholt Bridcutt Larsson-Giacc Alvarez-----Johnson Wickham
Looking forward to seeing an attacking 7, what this system was intended for but has not been achievable without pacy fullbacks.
Hope it is Giacc and not Gomez, neither offer much defensively but Giacc does provide more in attack. Gomez to come on in the end to play the through ball he loves to play to the on-rushing Van Aanholt
Having two full backs in their natural positions will make a massive, massive difference. Adds a whole new dimension to our attacks
Pants Jones Jos Brown PVA Briddo Rodwell Lars Giacca AJ Fletch Vito Whicks Alvarez Santi Bucks Mavrias assuming Catts and Rev are unavailable ?
Hopefully the Groundsman will make sure the centre of the pitch is well watered, maximising the chance of His Gerrardness slipping under pressure from Seb
