Saturday 26 November 2016 15:00, UK
Liverpool will look to continue their unbeaten home run in the Premier League when they take on a resurgent Sunderland on Saturday.
Jurgen Klopp's side have picked up four points from their last two matches, playing out a 0-0 draw with Southampton last weekend after enjoying a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Watford before the international break.
Sunderland have put together two morale-boosting wins, with a 2-1 victory over Bournemouth followed up by a convincing display at home in a 3-0 win against Hull City. Victor Anichebe has scored three of Sunderland's goals in both matches, and Klopp is wary of his threat.
Should the Black Cats win, they would be the first team to beat Liverpool at home in the league this season. However, they will be up against the record books as Liverpool have never lost a Premier League match at home against the north east club.
Team news
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana remains a doubt for the visit of David Moyes' team.
The England star injured a groin on international duty on November 15 and missed last week's goalless draw at former club Southampton.
Defender Joe Gomez made his return to competitive action for the Under-23s in midweek after 13 months out with a knee injury but it is too early for him to be considered for first-team selection.
Sunderland boss Moyes will be forced to make changes for the trip to Merseyside.
Paddy McNair has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing his cruciate ligament in last week's win over Hull, while Papy Djilobodji is suspended after being sent off in the same game.
John O'Shea and Steven Pienaar are in line to return to the starting line-up but Lee Cattermole (hip), Fabio Borini (groin), Sebastian Larsson (knee) and Jan Kirchhoff and Jack Rodwell (both hamstring) are still out.
Opta stats
Liverpool have never lost a Premier League match vs Sunderland at Anfield (W7 D8). Indeed, the Reds are unbeaten in their last 18 home games in all competitions against the Black Cats (W9 D9).
Sunderland have won just two of their last 20 games against Liverpool (D5 L13) - 1-0 in October 2009 and 1-0 in March 2012.
James Milner has scored five Premier League goals against Sunderland with four different Premier League teams (Aston Villa, Newcastle, Leeds, and Manchester City); only Emile Heskey (5) has scored against Sunderland with more sides.
Daniel Sturridge has been directly involved in five goals in his last three Premier League appearances against Sunderland (three goals, two assists).
Jurgen Klopp hasn't named an unchanged Premier League starting line-up since his second game in charge, going 40 games without keeping the same starting XI.
Sunderland are looking to win three successive Premier League matches for the first time since May 2014 (four in a row).
Sunderland have scored their last 21 successive penalties in the league (the longest run of all current teams in the league) and haven't failed from the spot in the league since December 2011.
Victor Anichebe has scored three goals in his last two Premier League appearances - he has never scored in three successive Premier League appearances, despite playing 190 times in the competition.
Jermain Defoe has been involved in 21 of Sunderland's 41 Premier League goals in 2016 so far (51 per cent - 18 goals, three assists).
No two players have combined to create more goalscoring chances for one another in the Premier League this season than Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho have (16).
Merson's prediction
Again, with the big boys, they have got to win. There is no point drawing - draws are no good.
I know Sunderland have turned a corner a bit but I think this will be a corner too far for them so for that reason I would expect Liverpool to win.
PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)
Betting
Sunderland are up against odds of 14/1 with Sky Bet as Liverpool are considered the shortest-priced favourites of the weekend at just 2/11.
Jurgen Klopp's men are currently 3/1 in the Premier League outright while their visitors are second in the relegation betting at 8/15.
Roberto Firmino heads the first goalscorer betting at 11/4 while Jermain Defoe is considered the visitors' main threat at 9/1.
