Both aiming to bounce back from weekend Premier League defeats, Sunderland and Liverpool will do battle at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.
A loss to Manchester City on Sunday sees the visiting defending champions now sat sixth and six points outside of the top four, while their hosts fell to ninth spot after falling short against Arsenal on Saturday.
Contents
Sunderland vs Liverpool prediction: Can Liverpool reignite top-four bid?
Key stats
- Only five teams have conceded fewer Premier League goals than Sunderland (29) this season.
- Liverpool have won just one of their last seven Premier League games.
- Liverpool's tally of 15 Premier League points from away games this season is only the joint-ninth highest in the division.
Correct score prediction: Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool
Liverpool have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks but saw their top-four hopes take a hit in the weekend's dramatic loss to Manchester City. We see them finding it tough at a stadium in which no away side have managed to win in a top-flight contest so far this term and sharing the points.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Liverpool to hand Sunderland first home league defeat of the season?
- HOME: 10/3 (4.33) – 23.1%
- DRAW: 14/5 (3.80) – 26.3%
- AWAY: 3/4 (1.75) – 57.1%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
As shown by the implied probabilities, bookmakers give Liverpool an edge to return to winning ways at the Stadium of Light with a 57.1% chance.
A draw can be backed at 26.3%, while Sunderland are given a 23.1% chance at the ground in which they are yet to lose in the Premier League this term. Also, feel free to check out our Today’s betting tips page, as well as our Premier League predictions & betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: Sunderland seeking to end 11-game drought against Liverpool
On Sunderland's return to the Premier League this term, the first meeting between the two sides since 2017 ended in a 1-1 draw at Anfield in December, stretching Liverpool's unbeaten run against the Black Cats to 11 H2Hs dating back to March 2012.
The Reds' last visit to the Stadium of Light in January 2017 ended in a 2-2 draw, while they have 79 overall H2H wins to Sunderland's 52.
England Premier League 03/12/25
Liverpool
Sunderland
Sunderland preview: Xhaka, Traore absences continue?
Sunderland will hope to bounce back from Saturday's 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, having dropped to ninth spot while still trailing their sixth-placed opponents by just three points in their bid for European qualification.
Talismanic midfielder Granit Xhaka and key winger Bertrand Traore will likely remain confined to the treatment room, leaving Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki to continue in the engine room in the former's absence.
Predicted lineup: Roefs (GK); Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Mandava; Sadiki, Diarra; Angulo, Le Fee, Talbi & Brobbey
Last five results:
- Arsenal 3-0 Sunderland
- Sunderland 3-0 Burnley
- West Ham 3-1 Sunderland
- Sunderland 2-1 Crystal Palace
- Everton 1-1 Sunderland
Liverpool preview: Szoboszlai suspended, injuries persist
Liverpool are unable to call on midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai, who received a controversial red card in the dying minutes of Sunday's loss to Manchester City.
That will leave Wataru Endo or Curtis Jones to deputise at right-back, with Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong still sidelined, while Hugo Ekitike will continue to lead the line in the absence of Alexander Isak, who continues to recover after a broken leg last year.
Predicted lineup: Alisson (GK); Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo & Ekitike
Last five results:
- Liverpool 1-2 Manchester City
- Liverpool 4-1 Newcastle
- Liverpool 6-0 Qarabag
- Bournemouth 3-2 Liverpool
- Marseille 0-3 Liverpool
Player to watch: Hugo Ekitike
Aiming to bounce back from the weekend's harmful defeat to Manchester City, Liverpool will again turn to key forward Hugo Ekitike, who has spearheaded their recent improvement with a hot streak since early December.
The French international has notched up nine goals and three assists in his last 13 appearances in all competitions, moving onto 10 goals for the season in the Premier League in the process, when he scored twice in the first half of their recent 4-1 beating of Newcastle United.