Kick-off: Saturday 17^th October – 15:00 GMT

Venue: The Stadium of Light

Sunderland

League Position: 8th

Recent Form: LWLWD

The International break came at a disastrous time for Steve Bruce and Sunderland as the club looked to be building up momentum after a stunning result away at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United. Sunderland were incredible against the ‘Red Devils’ and they nearly got their just rewards before a late Anton Ferdinand own goal tore apart Sunderland hearts. Still, there were half-a-dozen positives to take from that game, none more so then their attacking prowess that day which seen them terrorise a usually reliable United defence and score twice past a nervous Ben Foster. Sunderland pushed United all the way and they would have been fully deserving of the three points had they have held on until the bitter end.

The break could be seen as a double edged sword in all honesty, with the Sunderland camp now given time to digest a bitter draw with Man Utd. To say it was bitter is a testament to Sunderland’s performance that day but words really can’t describe how outstanding they were. However, that fine team display will count for nothing if they don’t replicate it in their forthcoming fixtures, starting with another tough clash with Liverpool.

The ‘Black Cats’ have never welcomed Liverpool with open arms, especially as the ‘Reds’ have won on their previous three visits to The Stadium of Light. However, several big players have come in since and Sunderland look a totally different proposition from the side that lost 1-0 to Liverpool last season. Darren Bent & Kenwyn Jones are playing with an attacking swagger, Lee Cattermole has reinforced what was a weak midfield, while the defence is finally showing a bit of defensive commitment, sticking men behind the ball and they aren’t scared to get a block in when needed.

A small downer for Steve Bruce is the fact that Kenwyn Jones has had to endure a length flight back to England from Trinidad, which could leave him slightly jet-lagged and out-of-sorts with the surroundings. Darren Bent will still remain a handful but if Steve Bruce does have to leave Jones out then you can’t help but think that Sunderland might not have enough fire-power going forward to trouble Liverpool.

Liverpool

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: WWWWL

Rafael Benitez has never been too fond of letting his players go for International duty as he always seems to end up with a half-beaten squad. Well, this week has been no different as both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, two of Liverpool’s more influential players, have both returned to Melwood with knocks. Neither participated in midweek for their countries, with Gerrard returning particularly early, but the fact remains that Benitez might have to field a team consisting off players with niggles and low fitness levels. That’s never a good formula, especially in away encounters.

A defeat to a fellow rival is never easy to digest but the irony is that the International break came at the perfect time for Mr. Benitez, with the players allowed time to drown their Chelsea sorrows and recover, mentally, in time for their next big league clash.

Liverpool were well below par away at Chelsea, deservingly losing 2-0, with our biggest disappointment with the Liverpool performance being their lacklustre efforts in the final third, when they actually got their. They played so negatively it was unreal. It was like they knew the draw would be an acceptable result and they set up camp in a bid to achieve it, a recipe for disaster it turned out to be. I can’t remember the ‘Reds’ carving out a decent goalscoring opportunity in that game but they have should have more room for manoeuvre away at Sunderland, a team who has had a tendency to attack this season, leaving plenty of gaps at the back for Torres to exploit, barring he’s fit enough for the trip.

It’s now three defeats in eight for Liverpool this season, two of which have come on the road, with London posing somewhat of a voodoo for Liverpool this term with defeats at Tottenham and Chelsea. It’s imperative that Liverpool put their recent woes behind them and concentrate on getting back to winning ways, sooner rather than later. A trip to Sunderland isn’t the best but it’s one they simply have to take. Liverpool have conceded more goals then they’ve scored on the road, 7 for and 8 against, something Steve Bruce will take heart from.

Head-to-Head:

Sunderland W: 1 Liverpool W: 8 Draws: 1

Liverpool have completely dominated the recent meetings between the two sides, winning eight of the previous ten encounters. In recent meetings at The Stadium of Light, Liverpool have prospered, winning the previous three meetings on Tyneside, the latest coming in the form of a narrow 1-0 victory for the reds via a late Fernando Torres strike. You have to stretch back to the 2002/2003 season for Sunderland’s last victory over Liverpool, that being a 2-1 victory.

Over 2.5 Goals: 2 Under 2.5 Goals: 8

This has been a very tight affair in recent meetings, especially at The Stadium of Light. The last three encounters on Black Cat soil has resulted in low scoring affairs, with just one of the last six encounters between the two on Tyneside ending with three or more goals.

Key Player:- Fernando Torres

The Spanish sensation scored in the previous meeting at The Stadium of Light in a narrow 1-0 victory for Liverpool. However, he picked up a knock while playing for Spain in midweek and they will be doubts over his fitness ahead of this trip to Tyneside. However, a fit Torres is terrible news for Sunderland fans, with the Spaniard already taking his tally to 8 for the season, currently the Premiership highest goalscorer. He failed to score away at Chelsea more recently so he’ll be extra motivated and even hungrier to add to his tally away at Sunderland.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 10/11 Bet365

Sunderland’s heroics away at Old Trafford a fortnight ago will have left some punters drooling and possibly itching to have a punt on them in their very next outing. However, their next opponent just happens to be a Liverpool side who have beaten Sunderland in their previous three visits to The Stadium of Light. There has been new arrivals of the summer that have vastly improved the Sunderland side but Liverpool should still bypass a tough looking ‘Black Cats’ side.

Match Verdict:

Sunderland – 15/4 PaddyPower

Liverpool – 10/11 Bet365

Draw -5/2 SkyBet

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Liverpool to score 2+ goals – 5/6 SkyBet