Saturday 21 January 2017 16:31, UK
West Bromwich Albion will be confident of maintaining their strong record against teams in the bottom half of the Premier League when Sunderland visit on Saturday.
The Baggies have picked up 21 of their 29 points this season against teams 10th or below in the league standings.
Matt Phillips has played a key role in their success, as he's been directly involved in 11 goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances.
Sunderland, who are second bottom, haven't won any of their last six games in all competitions, losing four of those matches.
Team news
Jake Livermore could make his West Brom debut after the midfielder trained with the Baggies on Friday having completed his switch from Hull City.
Albion will give defender Jonny Evans a late fitness test as he continues to struggle with a calf injury.
Allan Nyom is still waiting for FIFA clearance to play having been left out of Cameroon's African Nations Cup squad.
Sunderland midfielder Jack Rodwell is expected to be fit after his knee injury proved not to be as serious as first thought.
Rodwell missed the midweek FA Cup third-round replay defeat at Burnley after suffering suspected medial ligament damage against Stoke at the weekend, but a scan revealed no lasting damage and he should be available for the game at the Hawthorns.
Fellow midfielder Steven Pienaar (calf) and striker Victor Anichebe (hamstring) could feature, but full-back Javier Manquillo (calf) is a doubt while 'keeper Jordan Pickford, defender Jan Kirchhoff, midfielder Paddy McNair and striker Duncan Watmore (all knee) are among the many other absentees.
Opta stats
West Brom are unbeaten in their last five Premier League meetings with Sunderland, though four of these have ended level (W1).
Sunderland's last Premier League win at the Hawthorns came in January 2006, drawing one and losing six of their seven visits there since.
Only Watford (29 years, 326 days) have named an older starting line-up on average than the Baggies this season (29 years, 265 days).
Sunderland have had just four different goalscorers this season (Jermain Defoe, Victor Anichebe, Patrick van Aanholt and Fabio Borini). Every other Premier League side has had at least double that.
West Brom have scored 11 headed goals this season, the joint-most in the division with Arsenal, while Sunderland are the only team yet to score one.
Merson's prediction
West Brom have gone a little bit off the boil in recent weeks. They went out of the FA Cup which was a disappointing result and then Tottenham absolutely rinsed them last week. It could have been any score and that's not like West Brom. Sunderland, after their disappointing result last week, need a win. They didn't really get going against Stoke and look like a side in trouble.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (6/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Sky Bet make West Brom their 4/6 favourites when they play host to struggling Sunderland at the weekend. The Black Cats are 9/2 to take all three points from the clash at the Hawthorns, while the draw can be backed at 13/5. The Baggies have been in fine form of late and are 9/2 to win 3-0, 3-1 or 3-2, with a home win to nil priced at 13/8.
The first goalscorer betting is headed by Salomon Rondon at 7/2, while Sunderland's leading marksman Defoe is 6/1 in the same market and 9/4 to fire his 13th goal of the Premier League campaign.
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