The Reds Retrospective

Wednesday, February 11th – Stadium of Light

A Wednesday night encounter scheduled in the northeast as Liverpool travel to take on Sunderland in the Premier League means that the drama and disappointment of yet another lead lost at home has to be put in the back view mirror.

The loss vs Manchester City means that in 6 league matches since the turn of the new year, Liverpool have only won 1 – a far cry from where the reds would hope to be with the talent that they have accumulated at Anfield.

While Liverpool have done less with more this season, Sunderland to their credit are a story of the opposite. The Black Cats sit in the top half of the table (9th – 36 points). After Liverpool’s weekend loss to Man City, the Reds remain in 6th on 39 points in the league.

While Liverpool fight to return to the top 5, it is hard given the Reds increasingly inconsistent and stale league form to avoid looking down the table. The Reds are closer to their Wednesday opposition in 9th than they are to Chelsea in 5th, for instance.

This reminder should serve to prove two things:
(1) That Wednesday’s encounter is of paramount importance to Liverpool’s aspirations to even remain in the Champions League next season. Although, this will be said of every remaining Premier League game given that the Reds cannot afford to continue dropping points.
(2) And additionally that this will not be an easy task. Much of Sunderland’s success in their first Premier League season since 2016-17 has been bolstered by their prowess playing at home. Sunderland has not lost this season at the Stadium of Light.

LIVERPOOL RECENT FORM
W at Marseille 3-0
L at Bournemouth 2-3
W vs Qarabağ 6-0
W vs Newcastle 4-1
L vs Man City 1-2

SUNDERLAND RECENT FORM
D vs Everton 1 – 1 FA Cup Third Round – Sunderland won on penalties (3-0).
W vs Crystal Palace 2-1
L at West Ham 1-3
W vs Burnley 3-0
L at Arsenal 0-3

Like Liverpool, it has been a mixed bag for Sunderland as of late, however their home form remains undeniable. It will be a tough win that the Reds will need to go earn.

LIVERPOOL PREDICTED 11 (4-2-3-1)
Alisson, Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo, Ekitike. 

There are a couple of names on this team sheet who deserve to be left off in the midst of subpar seasons, but the Reds squad depth will not allow for that.

Arne Slot will likely only make the change that he is forced to make to the team following Dominik Szoboszlai’s sending off at the end of the 2-1 defeat on Sunday.

Curtis Jones will be the leading candidate to slot in at right back, as in his post match remarks Slot confirmed that Jeremie Frimpong will not be fit for Wednesday.

Slot was noncommittal regarding the status of Joe Gomez as he returns to full health, however in asking a reporter ironically if he would play the Englishman after a three week absence, Slot all but confirmed his view on returning Gomez to the lineup in an expedited nature. It is a possibility we see Joe on the bench however, which would be a more than welcome sight as the squad is particularly battered on the defensive end.

MATCH PREDICTION
It’s hard to imagine that this Liverpool team will be the team that will go to an unbeaten at home top half of the Premier League side and get a win. It’s an unfortunate statement to make, given that it is representative of just how far our standards have seemingly fallen this season.

Like the reverse fixture earlier this season, I am predicting a draw at 2-2. Goals from Wirtz and Ekitike.