Sunderland vs Liverpool Prediction and Preview – 30/12/15
Premier League preview – Sunderland vs Liverpool prediction
Jermaine Defoe and Costel Pantilimon are in line for a quick recall to the Sunderland starting eleven after sitting out the game at Manchester City while Jack Rodwell returns to the squad after being suspended for the Boxing Day game. Sam Allerdyce is forced to play four at the back instead of his favoured five due to the injury to Younis Kaboul.
Liverpool striker Divock Origi was injured in the 1-0 victory over Leicester on Saturday and Cristian Benteke is expected to reclaim his place leading the attack despite news that Daniel Sturridge could make an early comeback. Jordan Ibe comes into contention after an illness kept him out of the Leicester game. The rest of Liverpool’s injured list is made up with Martin Skrtel, James Milner, Jon Flanagan, Joe Gomez, Jordan Rossiter and Danny Ings.
Possible Line-ups
Sunderland: 4-2-3-1 formation: Pantilimon; Jones, Coates, O’Shea, van Aanholt; M’Vila, Cattermole; Watmore, Toivonen, Johnson; Defoe
Liverpool: 4-2-3-1 formation: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Can, Henderson; Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho; Benteke
Statistics
- Sunderland have won 3 drawn 0 and lost 7 of their last 10 matches
- Liverpool have won 5 drawn 2 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Sunderland have scored an average of 1.1 goals and conceded an average of 1.9 goal per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Liverpool have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 1.2 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 5 of Sunderland’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Liverpool’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Sunderland have been dreadful at the back of late, shipping eleven goals while losing the last four games. Reverting to a back four did not help the cause at Manchester City on Saturday when the Black Cats found themselves three goals down after 22 minutes. They have little in way of options to bolster the back line until the January transfer window.
Liverpool ended a run of four games without a win and will be hopeful of back to back victories when travelling to Wearside on Wednesday. The Merseyside outfit have failed to score in the last three away games losing 2-0 at Newcastle and 3-0 at Watford either side of the 0-0 draw at Sion in the Europa League. The victory against table-topping Leicester will have given Jurgen Klopp’s men a much needed boost ahead of this clash against the Premier League strugglers.
Liverpool have won on their last two visits to the Stadium of Light and have a great opportunity to make it three out of three against Sunderland’s weakened defence.
Tips
Liverpool to win at 8/11 with Coral
Over 2.5 goals at Evens with Paddy Power
Liverpool to win 2-1 at 17/2 with BetVictor
What are your predictions?
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