The Premier League schedule offers no respite for a beleaguered Liverpool side. Just 72 hours after a soul-crushing late defeat to Manchester City at Anfield, Arne Slot must pick his players up for a daunting trip to the North East. Wednesday night sees the champions visit a Sunderland side that has made the Stadium of Light an impregnable fortress this season.
While the attacking trio of Hugo Ekitiké and Florian Wirtz has dragged Liverpool out of their early-season monotony, the defensive frailties that cost them dearly against the Citizens remain a glaring issue. The Reds sit sixth, four points adrift of the top four, and know anything less than a win against the Black Cats could severely dent their Champions League aspirations.
Sunderland: The Hosts with the Most
Under the guidance of Régis Le Bris, Sunderland have been the surprise package of the season. Sitting in ninth place, their defensive solidity—particularly on home soil—has been the bedrock of their success. They are currently the only team in the Premier League to maintain an unbeaten home record.
However, they come into this clash on the back of a comprehensive defeat at the hands of league-leaders Arsenal. Manager Le Bris will view the visit of Liverpool as a prime opportunity to get back to winning ways and secure a first victory over the Reds since 2012.
Team News: The Black Cats will be without influential midfielder Granit Xhaka due to an ankle injury, a significant blow to their pivot. The experienced Bertrand Traoré is also sidelined with a knee issue. In their absence, Habib Diarra and youngster Noah Sadiki are expected to partner in midfield. Chemsdine Talbi retains his spot on the left, looking to exploit Liverpool’s right-back crisis.
Liverpool: A Defensive Crisis Deepens
For Arne Slot, the selection headache has turned into a migraine. The suspension of Dominik Szoboszlai—following his red card against City—compounds an already dire situation at right-back. With Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley already injured, Liverpool are missing four players who have played in that position this season.
Joe Gomez has returned to training but is likely to start from the bench, meaning Curtis Jones may be asked to deputize in an unfamiliar full-back role. Further compounding Slot’s problems are the long-term absences of Alexander Isak and Giovanni Leoni.
Despite the chaos at the back, Liverpool’s frontline remains lethal. If Wirtz, Ekitiké, and Mohamed Salah can click, they have the firepower to outscore any opponent, even on a difficult away day.
The Verdict
Liverpool’s porous defense suggests they are ripe for the picking, especially against a Sunderland side that thrives on the energy of their home crowd. The reverse fixture at Anfield ended in a 1-1 draw, and with the Black Cats relishing the underdog tag, a similar stalemate looks likely.
Prediction: Sunderland 2–2 Liverpool
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