Next Saturday, 6th December 2014, a Liverpool that appears to be in a crescendo will measure forces with Sunderland at Anfield Road for round 15 of the English Premier League, on a match of vital importance for the home side that is trying to recover the time they’ve lost so far in the league and for the visitors that keep showing clear signs of inconsistency and are dangerously close to relegation zone.

Last Tuesday, Liverpool returned to wins away from Anfield more than a month after their last away victory over QPR at Loftus Road, since they overcame Leicester on what was a very thrilling and entertaining match. The Reds had to work hard in order to clinch the three points at the King Power Stadium, but after a somewhat slow start, Liverpool managed to make the most out of their opponents’ constant defensive mistakes and won the match by 3-1. The Foxes got the lead on the 22nd minute, when Ulloa’s effort rebounded on the post and hit Mignolet in the back, ending up at the back of the net. The Argentinean goal sounded the alarm for The Reds’ troops, who instantly snatched the equalizer thanks to an effort from Lallana. After the break, Liverpool’s historical captain, Steven Gerrard, “opened the tally” and led his team to victory by netting in the second goal and initiating the attacking movement that resulted in the third one.

Liverpool’s season has been far from impressive and the echoes of disapproval regarding Brendan Rodgers’ work started to emerge. Although it seems somehow logic to point the finger to the Northern Irish manager, it is also important to highlight that Liverpool’s manager was probably not given the players he needed to mitigate Suárez’s departure and that the newcomers are still adapting to the manager’s ideas. This being said, it seems fair to remember that is impossible for someone to fly a plane while building it and this is the kind of “abnormal” situation that is currently taking place at Liverpool.

The Reds’ upcoming match against Sunderland is a good opportunity for them to extend their still fragile winning streak but if they manage to, at least, replicate the intensity they showed against the Foxes, they will probably be able to claim the three points.

As for Sunderland, the team keeps showing clear signs of inconsistency this season. After the impressive goalless draw against Chelsea over the weekend, the Black Cats were smashed at home by a truly inspired Manchester City, that put an abrupt end to the home side’s four-match row without defeats. Sunderland’s next match at Anfield is probably not the best opportunity for them to recover from last Wednesday’s painful defeat, but they will need to have in mind that another defeat might throw them into the relegation zone.

Liverpool

Stats: W-2 L-2 D-1

Recent Form - WWDLL

Sunderland

Stats: W-1 L-1 D-3

Recent Form - LDDDW

Possible Line-ups

Liverpool (4-3-3) – Mignolet - Manquillo - Skrtel - Lovren - Johnson - Leiva - Henderson - Lallana - Gerrard - Sterling - Lambert

Sunderland (4-1-3-2) – Pantilimon - Coates - Vergini - O’Shea - Reveillere - Cattermole - Larsson - Buckley - Rodwell - Fletcher- Wickham

Prediction

Liverpool 3 Sunderland 1