Sunderland vs Liverpool preview

Posted on | August 24, 2007 | No Comments

Sunderland face a tough home fixture against Rafael Benitez’s Liverpool side, just one week before their much anticipated clash against Manchester United.

Roy Keane’s side have started well this season- picking up four points from three games ( One win, one loss and one draw). They are tied on 4 with a host of other teams, including their opponents this week, but lie at the bottom of this pack thanks to their negative goal difference.Their 3-0  loss to Wigan brought them to earth after a dream start to this season. They had Michael Chopra’s late goal to thank for an opening day win against Spurs, and Stern John for salvaging a point in the game against Birmingham. Dean Whitehead is likely to be out for close to a month after suffering knee ligament damage. Midfielder Carlos Edwards is out, while Paul McShane is racing against time to be fit after suffering a head injury against Wigan. McShane and his partner Nyron Nosworthy were very impressive against Tottenham, stifling the likes of Keane and Berbatov, and they will need to do a similar job against a star studded Liverpool side. Grant Leadbitter has returned to training, but is expected to miss this clash. Keane has started Chopra in both the games after putting him on the bench in the opening game.

Liverpool have played two games, one less than the Black Cats. They won 2-1 against Aston Villa thanks to Steven Gerrard’s late freekick. A controversial penalty awarded against them by referee Rob Styles saw three points against Chelsea reduced to one.  Gerrard might not play in this game, if Rafa takes the decision to save him for the second leg of their CL qualifying game against Toulouse.  Benitez has played the same side in both the league games- starting Torres and Kuyt upfront, and Finnan, Carragher, Agger and Arbeloa at the back. Torres scored his opening league goal for the club against Chelsea, and his pace and height could pose serious problems for Sunderland, who were clearly overawed by Heskey’s pace and strength in the game against Wigan. Arbeloa and Riise will be the source for attacks from the left flank, with Finnan and Pennant doing the same on the right.  Liverpool have scored 6999 goals in their history going into this game, and will need one more for 7000.

Sunderland are looking for a sixth consecutive home win, and are undefeated at home since their loss to Preston in December last year. I still see a comfortable Liverpool win. 2-0 or 3-0 with Kuyt, Torres and Riise likely scorers

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3. Premiership Sunderland v Liverpool
4. Liverpool vs West Ham preview- November 20
5. Liverpool v Everton preview

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