Sunderland vs Liverpool live: Reds face tough Premier League test in bid to salvage top-five push | OneFootball

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Slot admits Champions League is minimum acceptable for Liverpool

Sunderland host Liverpool in the Premier League with the visitors travelling north hoping to close the gap on Manchester United and Chelsea in the final Champions League qualification spots.

Arne Slot’s side are still reeling from the dramatic loss to Manchester City last weekend, with the Reds currently sitting five points behind fifth-placed Chelsea but perhaps boosted by both of their top-five rivals dropping points last night.

However, it doesn’t get any easier for the champions as they travel to the Stadium of Light to face a Sunderland side who are unbeaten at home so far this season.

The Black Cats began the weekend in ninth after the 3-0 loss to Arsenal, but with positive results at home against the Gunners and Man City already this term, it’ll take a big performance for Liverpool to deal them their first home loss of the season.

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Sunderland are without Granit Xhaka due to injury as well as January signing Jocelin Ta Bi, who is getting up to match fitness. Bertrand Traore may be available to return from a knee injury. Lutsharel Geertruida was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in January but remained at Sunderland and could feature against the Reds.

Liverpool’s season MVP Szoboszlai will be absent after the debacle that surrounded his late red card against City, while the club’s injury problems are not likely to improve for the trip to the north east. Joe Gomez is unlikely to make a comeback, while Jeremy Frimpong is set for a few more weeks on the sidelines. Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are out for months.