PREVIEW: Sunderland aim to remain unbeaten at home as Liverpool continue top-four chase | OneFootball

Liverpool head to Sunderland in the hope of kick-starting their top-four chase under Arne Slot. With the season entering a crucial phase, Slot’s side know they must quickly find consistency if they are to keep pace with their rivals in the race for Champions League qualification.

Liverpool now sit five points behind Manchester United following a disappointing 2–1 defeat to Manchester City at the weekend, a result that dented both confidence and momentum. A visit to the Stadium of Light presents an opportunity to put things right, but Sunderland will be determined to frustrate the visitors on home turf. With pressure building and points at a premium, Liverpool will be expected to deliver a strong response as Slot looks to steer his side back on track.

Sunderland sit just three points behind Liverpool heading into this fixture, with much of that gap explained by their formidable home form. As the 26th gameweek approaches, Sunderland remain unbeaten at the Stadium of Light this season, having won seven of their 12 home matches and drawn the remaining five, an impressive record they will be keen to protect.

This fixture looks likely to produce goals. Sunderland have failed to score just once at home this season, in a 0–0 draw against Manchester City, while Liverpool have only failed to find the net twice in away league matches. Liverpool’s away fixtures average 3.33 goals per game, with Sunderland home matches averaging 2.50 goals.

Sunderland have conceded four goals in the opening 20 minutes of matches at the Stadium of Light this season, their highest total across any 20-minute interval, suggesting that a slow start could offer Liverpool a route to gaining an early foothold in the game.

That statistic may offer Sunderland some confidence, however, as Liverpool have yet to score within the opening 20 minutes of any away Premier League fixture this season, while conceding six goals in that same period on their travels.

Both sides head into the contest missing key players. Liverpool are still without Alexander Isak, who scored a hat-trick on his last visit to the Stadium of Light. Jeremie Frimpong, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley also remain sidelined, while star man Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended following the chaotic conclusion to Sunday’s defeat against Manchester City. Arne Slot confirmed in his press conference that Joe Gomez has yet to train, though he is expected to do so today, offering a potential boost if he can be passed fit.

Sunderland remain without captain Granit Xhaka, while Bertrand Traoré is also expected to miss out as he continues his recovery from the knee injury sustained while on international duty with Burkina Faso. There is better news regarding Noah Sadiki, who appears to have avoided serious injury after being withdrawn at the weekend and should be available for selection.

New signing Nilson Angulo could also be in line for his first Sunderland start after making a late cameo off the bench in Saturday’s fixture.

Can Liverpool’s in-form attacking duo of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz break through Sunderland’s rigid defence? And will Liverpool’s defensive frailties be punished by Brian Brobbey, who has proven to be more than a handful for opposition backlines this season?

Find out on Wednesday 11 February, with kick-off scheduled for 20:15 GMT.