Liverpool vs Sunderland: Premier League match preview

A look ahead to this week’s Premier League fixture at Anfield

Brendan Rodgers’ side are seeking to make it three successive Premier League wins for the first time this season when they face Sunderland at Anfield on Saturday.

The former Swansea boss has steered the Reds to wins over Stoke and Leicester in the last seven days and it appears the Merseyside club are finally finding some momentum going into the Christmas period.

Recent history also bodes well for Rodgers, as Liverpool have won seven out of their last ten Premier League fixtures between the two sides at Anfield, while drawing the other three contests.

Swansea are up to seventh after beating Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.

KICK OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Liverpool 2 (Gerrard, Sturridge) Sunderland 1 (Ki Sung-Yong), Premier League, March 2014.

Sunderland 1 (Giaccherini) Liverpool 3 (Suarez 2, Sturridge), Premier League, September 2013.

Liverpool 3 (Suarez 2, Sterling) Sunderland 0, Premier League, January 2013.

STATS…

Head to head record: 75 Liverpool wins, 35 draws, 52 Sunderland wins

Sunderland haven’t won at Anfield since October 1983.

Gus Poyet’s side have won only once away from home this season (3-1 win at Crystal Palace) and only Queen’s Park Rangers have a worse record.

Steven Gerrard has lost only one of the seventeen games in which he has started against the Black Cats.

ODDS…

Liverpool to win: 1.52

Sunderland to win: 7.8

Draw: 4.5

TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10:20pm