Liverpool finally breathed a sigh of relief after snapping their recent slump, but their job is far from done as they welcome a confident Sunderland side to Anfield.
Both teams head into this clash with renewed belief, making this one of the more intriguing midweek fixtures. Liverpool’s 2–0 win over West Ham in the league eased some of the pressure on Arne Slot, while Sunderland arrive buzzing after a dramatic comeback win over Bournemouth.
Team News
Liverpool appear to have come through their weekend fixture without any fresh injuries, and Arne Slot should have the same squad available. Softfootball understands that Cody Gakpo remains one to watch after scoring against West Ham and continuing his strong form at Anfield.
Sunderland also finished the Bournemouth win with no major setbacks. Enzo Le Fée, who was instrumental in their comeback, is expected to play a key role again, though he is still searching for his first away goal for the Black Cats.
Match Overview
Liverpool had entered last weekend in a dark place after three straight heavy defeats, but their composed win in London has brought some much-needed calm. Beyond the result, their midweek record offers further optimism: just one loss in their last 25 Premier League games played during the week.
Sunderland, however, won’t be intimidated. They have avoided defeat in nine of their last 11 matches and have shown real resilience, especially in their most recent victory, where they turned a 2–0 deficit into a 3–2 win.
Still, their away record against reigning champions is bleak, and Anfield hasn’t been kind to them historically. However, Sunderland have shown that they have character against big teams, as is obvious in the 2-2 draw against Arsenal just three games ago.
Liverpool haven’t lost to Sunderland at Anfield since 1983, while the Reds are unbeaten in the last 10 Premier League meetings between the sides; they even uploaded a video of the goals scored in Sunderland’s last Premier League visit to Anfield via their official X account.
Watch the video below:
Possible Lineups
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isakpo
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs; Mukiele, Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Le Fee; Traore, Brobbey
Softfootball’s Prediction
Despite Sunderland’s recent surge in confidence, Liverpool’s midweek consistency and formidable home record tilt the balance heavily in their favour. The first goal will be crucial—as history shows, Liverpool have won every league match this season when scoring first.
Sunderland may look to exploit any lingering nerves, especially early on, but Liverpool’s quality, depth, and crowd advantage should be enough.
Prediction: Liverpool 2–1 Sunderland
