Liverpool need to get back on track

Luis Suarez will play his first Premier League game after his suspension for biting Ivanovic in April

Liverpool travel to Sunderland on Sunday with their tails slightly between their legs. An undeserved loss against United in the League Cup has knocked their confidence but the poor performance against Southampton is what has most fans worrying. Luckily for the Reds, Suarez is well and truly back and he will no doubt boost the side’s overall display.

There are no new injury worries for Liverpool and Daniel Agger looks as though he may be able to start if Rodgers decides to field him. For Sunderland, I have conflicting information, some websites are saying Fletcher is their only player out whereas physio room says also out are ex-Reds Dossena, Bardsley and Brown. It also says that they have doubts hanging over the fitness of Celustka and John O’Shea. Make of that what you will, but Steven Fletcher is probably the biggest loss there anyway.

Along with their injury woes, Sunderland also find themselves stone dead last in the Premier League table with just one point collected under manager Di Canio who has since left the building. I must admit two things annoyed me about Di Canio’s departure, 1) he’s absolutely mental and adds entertainment to the league; 2) I figured we’d be destined to get all three points with him still in charge. But strangely, now that he’s left, I think a manager-less Sunderland pose a bit of an unknown threat.

The last time the two sides met was in January of this year. At Anfield, Liverpool came away winners with Raheem Sterling on the score sheet and Luis Suarez scoring twice. The last time the sides met at the Stadium of Light, Luis Suarez was again on the score sheet levelling the game after Steven Fletcher scored in the first half.

Sunderland’s last three games in the league have ended in losses, whilst Liverpool have a win, a draw and a loss. Sunderland though did manage to get their only point of the season so far against Southampton, which is more than Liverpool could do against the Saints.

Stat Sandwich

• Liverpool have failed to find the back of the net in a second half so far this season.
• Sunderland are the only Premier League team without a win thus far.
• Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet has made the most saves in the league so far – 25.