BIG MATCH PREVIEW! Liverpool v Sunderland

Sunderland should take a great deal of heart from Tuesday's performance against Manchester City - keep up the same drive and determination for the rest of the season and the lads will be applauded by the Sunderland faithful come the end of the season, regardless of our league status. Something felt different.

That said, if we are to stay up we need to start collecting wins sooner rather than later. Liverpool, like many of the top teams this season, have been hit and miss. They've yet to click and find any consistency. Though they're a very dangerous team the hope is that Sunderland fancy themselves to take the game to this weekend's opponents in the same fashion as they did midweek.

Kick-off Saturday 6th February 2016, Kick-off 15:00pm

Venue Anfield

Last season Liverpool 0-0 Sunderland

Odds H 5/11 A 8/1 D 50/13

Match Appointments

Referee:Robert Madley

Assistants: S Ledger & D Cann

Fourth Official: C Sarginson

Team News

Sunderland

Jeremain Lens (groin) is a major doubt for the trip to Anfield, and as a result Sam Allardyce may well hand new signing Wahbi Khazri his first start.

Yann M'Vila is a slight doubt with a bruised foot after missing training on Thursday. He'll be assessed on Friday but is expected to be OK. Younes Kaboul will return to the match squad following a number of weeks out with a hamstring issue.

Liverpool

Daniel Sturridge has returned to training but will still miss this weekend's game. Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi could return, whilst Martin Skrtel, Jordan Rossiter, Danny Ings and Joe Gomez all remain sidelined.

Form

Sunderland

LWWLDL

02 Feb 2016 - Sunderland 0-1 Manchester City

23 Jan 2016 - Sunderland 1-1 AFC Bournemouth

16 Jan 2016 - Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 Sunderland

13 Jan 2016 - Swansea City 2-4 Sunderland

02 Jan 2016 - Sunderland 3-1 Aston Villa

30 Dec 2015 - Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

Liverpool

WLDLWL

02 Feb 2016 - Leicester City 2-0 Liverpool

23 Jan 2016 - Norwich City 4-5 Liverpool

17 Jan 2016 - Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United

13 Jan 2016 - Liverpool 3-3 Arsenal

02 Jan 2016 - West Ham United 2-0 Liverpool

30 Dec 2015 - Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

Manager's Craic

Sam Allardyce:

When asked to compare Wahbi Khazri with Youri Djorkaeff and Jay-Jay Okocha:

You are going world-class now, man. I'm not sure he's world-class - if he is, it will be the bargain buy of the century.

One of our problems is we get to the final third fine - we arrived in the final third much more than Manchester City, we produced more in the penalty area than Manchester City did against us - but our quality is the ultimate [problem] in that area.

It's the hardest place to produce that quality, so if he's got that quality in the final third which helps us provide and score more goals, then he'll be a massive bonus to us - as in the past Youri Djorkaeff particularly, in a similar position, and Jay-Jay Okocha provided in my Bolton time.

On where Wahbi Khazri plays:

Left or right mainly, or on the frontline if we need him.

But in the main, he is just happy to play where we pick him with a big smile on his face, which is nice to see because with our Christmas and New Year, it's been a long haul for the players to get through that, whereas the four new players who have come in come in smiling every day because they are where they want to be.

And where they want to be is where? In the Premier League.

Fan Focus

Rory Fallow spoke to Gaetan Greene from fellow SBNation site 'The Liverpool Offside' this week. You can read his interview here.

Head to Head

30 Dec 2015 - Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

10 Jan 2015 - Sunderland 0-1 Liverpool

06 Dec 2014 - Liverpool 0-0 Sunderland

26 Mar 2014 - Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland

29 Sep 2013 - Sunderland 1-3 Liverpool

02 Jan 2013 - Liverpool 3-0 Sunderland

Last Corresponding Game

This Seasons Reverse Fixture

Betting Guide

• Sunderland have lost 8 of their last 10 away matches (Premier League).
• Liverpool are undefeated in their last 13 home matches against Sunderland in all competitions.
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Sunderland's last 5 away games (Premier League).
• Liverpool have kept a clean sheet in their last 3 matches against Sunderland in all competitions.
• Sunderland have conceded at least 2 goals in their last 5 away matches (Premier League).
• Liverpool have seen under 2.5 goals in their last 3 matches against Sunderland in all competitions.

Prediction

We looked good against Manchester City - I was encouraged by the fight shown. I'm not sure we'll stay up this season, but I am sure we won't go down without a fight. I'm feeling optimistic the lads will bring us hope this weekend - everybody else is taking points off the top teams and I think this could be our turn. I'm going for 2-1 to the lads.