Liverpool v Sunderland, Wednesday 2nd January, KO: 19:45 Pre-match build up

After a comfortable win away at QPR I'm sure the lads will be up for this one, especially with Strurridge's arrival imminent.

I'd go for this side on Wednesday:

Reina

Johnson
Skrtel
Agger
Downing

Lucas
Allen

Sterling
Gerrard
Assaidi

Suarez

Subs; Jones; Wisdom, Carragher; Henderson, Sahin, Shelvey, Suso.

*Providing Jones and Henderson are ok to be in the squad. If not I'd put Gulacsi and Morgan/Sturridge (If available to play) on the bench.

The opposition

Sunderland have won 3 of there last 6, losing the other 3.

This is how they could line up:

Mignolet

Gardner
Cuellar
O'Shea (c)
Bardsley

Johnson
Larsson
Colback
McLean

Sessegnon

Fletcher

There main threats will come from there creative players - Johnson, Larsson and Sessegnon. And the obvious power of Fletcher up front.

I think if we score early, like we did against Fulham, we will run away with this game. I'm predicting a fashionable 3-1 win, with Suarez, Gerrard and Johnson scoring the goals for us, and Fletcher for them.

 

*Admin I could only find the picture I've attached, If you could find a better one could you please put it in.

This is one of those games where we should keep our winning momentum up, but we cannot be complacent. They have some dangerous players, and I think Adam Johnson will cause problems. I think we should play Glen Johnson at left back, and the fact he's right footed will help us because whenever Adam Johnson is on his strong foot, Glen will be defending on his stronger foot.

Defensively we can exploit them. They have slow, and not very mobile defenders and Suarez will have chances to penetrate their defence. I'm not sure if Sturridge will be here, but I don't see why not. The paperwork should be done the day before, and I've seen transfers done in an hour. I don't see why this can't be done in a day.

If Sturridge is here, I'd play him straight away. He knows the league, and he can give us something we've lacked on that right. Pace, goals, and someone who is hungry to get in that box.

I imagine Lucas will play, but I hope we remain unchanged. Henderson looked good and I think it'd be unfair to get rid of him. If Lucas did come him I'd take out Allen but I don't see Rogers doing that.

Sadly " a comfortable win at QPR" means sweet F**k all at the minute in regard to the Sunderland game.
We have to put the game to bed early 2 goals at least, if we don't we have to change things around at half time.

They are a decent team who have some good players back from niggly injuries recently McLean & Johnson (who we should have bought)

Fletcher up front is a good player who is due a goal it wont be easy at all. If we play like we played against Stoke forget about it we'll get
battered.

Martin O'Neill is unlike some try to make out on here a very good manager who will defo have a game plan...

Hopefully we will have Sturridge available we do need him asap imo...

Good Luck Red Men....

If Sturridge is available i,d put straight in to play down the middle. Suarez looked fantastic at QPR coming in from the right hand side which is where i,d play him. Then when Borini comes back put Borini wide left. At the moment if Assaidi is fit i,d put him out wide left. I think Hendo did enough to start again.

This is one of those games where we should keep our winning momentum up, but we cannot be complacent. They have some dangerous players, and I think Adam Johnson will cause problems. I think we should play Glen Johnson at left back, and the fact he's right footed will help us because whenever Adam Johnson is on his strong foot, Glen will be defending on his stronger foot.

Defensively we can exploit them. They have slow, and not very mobile defenders and Suarez will have chances to penetrate their defence. I'm not sure if Sturridge will be here, but I don't see why not. The paperwork should be done the day before, and I've seen transfers done in an hour. I don't see why this can't be done in a day.

If Sturridge is here, I'd play him straight away. He knows the league, and he can give us something we've lacked on that right. Pace, goals, and someone who is hungry to get in that box.

I imagine Lucas will play, but I hope we remain unchanged. Henderson looked good and I think it'd be unfair to get rid of him. If Lucas did come him I'd take out Allen but I don't see Rogers doing that.

I don't think Sturridge would be anywhere near match fit.
This will be a tough game for us. We always struggled against pacey attackers. They will sit back and counter with number. Hope BR found a way to counter the 'counter threat' .
Heart says 3-0
Brain says  0-1 with we having 60% ball and double the number of shots.

O'Neill has a good record against us so it will be tight, hopefully the boys will get over the shits...
              Reina
Wisdom  Skrtel  Agger   Johnson
         Lucas     Henderson
              Gerrard
 Sterling  Suarez  Downing

Sturridge hasn't played for months and is just returning to fitness from a hamstring injury and some want to throw him straight into the action ?

Sturridge hasn't played for months and is just returning to fitness from a hamstring injury and some want to throw him straight into the action ?

I think some people would like to throw him a lot further than that !

Sturridge hasn't played for months and is just returning to fitness from a hamstring injury and some want to throw him straight into the action ?

He was in Chelsea's squad on the 16th, then after that had a medical with us. So if he's recovered from the injury, yes. I'd play him straight away.

He was in Chelsea's squad on the 16th, then after that had a medical with us. So if he's recovered from the injury, yes. I'd play him straight away.

I'm still hoping the deal falls through

I'm still hoping the deal falls through

Still there is chance for a Spurs hijack. 

I'd keep Hendo in, play Johnson at lb and Wisdom at RB. If Sturridge is fit I'd give him a go possibly at expense of Sterling but more realistically expect him on the bench....after all Llorente has to start surely 

Hope the virus doesn't spread to anyone else in the squad, another must win game here.

Same team for me, just put Wisdom in at RB and shift Glen to the left. If Hendo isn't fit then I'd put Sahin in there.

Only watched Sunderland a few times this season. Not sure if I caught them on off days but they hardly offered any threat at all. Johnson's overrated and they look weak in the middle of the park.

3-0, Suarez x2 and Gerrard.

I'm still hoping the deal falls through

Why is that George?

Do you not have faith in Brendan; are you doubting his ability to chose the right player for the system?

Why is that George?

Do you not have faith in Brendan; are you doubting his ability to chose the right player for the system?

I don't rate Sturridge and think there could easily be better players out there beyond the borders of our own country

I think he is another overrated British player

So yes I have worries about his signings and future signings at the moment

Feeling much more confident about this one after yesterday , don't know why , 'cos let's face it , it's a gamble which team turns up. Still , going for a win 2-0 to us.
Oh , and a message for Brendan , please don't give them New Year's Day off .   

A very happy , successful and  peaceful New Year to one all .   

Another 3 points wouldn't go amiss....lets start 2013 with a home win

If the 5 teams above us drop points and we take all 3 it narrows the gap further for us to push for 4th,but we have found ourselves on a couple of occcassions in this position but never made it count.

Hoping to smash these.

I don't rate Sturridge and think there could easily be better players out there beyond the borders of our own country

Fair enough but why do you think Brendan's judgement shouldn't be trusted on this one?

Anyhows maybe that's for another thread; don't want to clutter this up with my curiosity.

Time to build on our points tally with this game.

Sure we have been erratic/inconsistent but the truth is that I would much rather have had the 12 points, over six games, (which included two defeats) than the pish-poor 10 from seven games Stoke through Swansea (in which we went unbeaten). Sunderland, at home, is the type of game that can give us a lift with two wins on the bounce.

                             Reina

 Wisdom         Skrtel        Agger       Johnson

                      Lucas        Sahin
     
                            Gerrard

      Sterling                                Assaidi

                             Suarez

First off - lets forget how many points we are off 6th or 4th or even 2nd..!

Sunderland for me are a very physical side, who will no doubt counter quickly - and with power. This is exactly the side we dont want to face at this point in time, however they are easily beatable. I expect them to score at least one against us, they have managed this against City, Spurs, Utd and Newcastle so they are a danger.

In our last outing we had 20 shot against them, 9 on target and scored 1 goal. This is a problem I hope we have solved... It will be great to see how we compaire with the earlier game this season...

It is now time we can really look to see if there has been improvement - and how far we have come... Being at home I expect a win here - and we really need to start putting a streak together - not for anything more than pride and beleif.

Just get the 3 points, don't matter how we get it. The roller coaster ride must stop and start winning. Have a good start in 2013!

Wonder who we'll play at LB. Johnson? Downing? Agger? If it were me, I'd put Glen on the left because Adam Johnson is going to constantly cut in. With Glen being right-footed, he'll cut in onto Johnson's stronger foot.