- Liverpool is PL-unbeaten in 2014
- Sunderland winless at Anfield since Oct. 1983
- Reds have won six straight in Premier League
Sunderland’s quest for Premier League survival hits a potential huge bump in the road with a Wednesday visit to Anfield to take on Liverpool, which is hoping to pull within a point of table-topping Chelsea with a win (Watch live 4p.m. ET Wednesday on NBCSN and online via Live Extra).
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The Black Cats have played just two Premier League fixtures in March thanks to extended Cup runs, and have taken one point from those matches. Today’s match marks the playing of another invaluable match-in-hand for Sunderland, with the 18th-place club having played two less matches than West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace and three points back of both.
Meanwhile, the Reds have outscored opponents 38-15 since their last Premier League loss, Dec. 29 against Chelsea, and still get to host the Blues they are chasing.
What they’re saying
Reds midfielder Jordan Henderson on playing his boyhood club: “At first it was a little bit strange because I was at Sunderland from I was young, but I’ve been at Liverpool for a few years now and I feel like it is sort of like home for me, so it doesn’t really matter who me or the team play against - I just want to win every game. I’m sure it’ll be very difficult because they’re another team fighting for their lives. They’ve got some very good players and I’m sure they’ll be right up for it coming to Anfield. We’ll need to make sure we’re right at it from the start, get the crowd with us and play with a lot of energy and tempo. High tempo is the key, I think, and I’m sure if we do that we can get the win.”
Sunderland’s Adam Johnson on springing the upset: “We know it’s going to be difficult, but we just have to go there and try to play with freedom and do our thing,” he said. We can’t just sit back and let them attack us and defend for our lives - we have to go there with a nothing-to-lose attitude. We’ve got try and put a performance on that is better that the one at Norwich but we aren’t just going there to roll over - there are teams that have gone there this season and caused them a few problems and hopefully we can do that.”
Prediction
The last times these two clubs met was the return of Luis Suarez from suspension, and he scored twice to key Liverpool to a 3-1 win at the Stadium of Light. That match showed the world the beginnings of what SAS could mean, as Daniel Sturridge set up both goals. Sadly for Sunderland, there’s no reason not to expect that to continue today. There’s no replacement for desperation, but perhaps chasing glory is the closest thing to it. Give Liverpool another 3-1 win.
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