Liverpool eager to extend dominant record over newly-promoted Sunderland.
Liverpool vs. Sunderland kicks off at 20:15 [GMT] on Wednesday, December 3, at Anfield.
Faltering champions Liverpool [LWLLW] host newly-promoted Sunderland at Anfield in a fixture heavily shaped by history, form, and contrasting trajectories. Although the two sides have not met in the Premier League since 2017, their past encounters provide a clear narrative heading into this match. Liverpool come into this clash with a dominant record against Sunderland, going unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League meetings (W6 D4). The last time Sunderland celebrated a league win over the Reds was back in March 2012. Liverpool’s recent home form, however, introduces a layer of unpredictability. The Reds have lost two of their last three Premier League matches at Anfield—matching the total number of home league defeats they suffered in their previous 53 games combined. They haven’t lost back-to-back home matches since the empty-stadium slump of early 2021, and not in front of fans since 2012. Midweek fixtures also paint an interesting picture. Liverpool have an exceptional record under the lights, losing just one of their last 25 midweek Premier League matches (W19 D5). Liverpool, meanwhile, have been ruthless against newly promoted clubs, winning their last 12 such Premier League matches. At Anfield the record is even stronger—26 wins in the last 28, with 12 straight victories coming into this one. A 4—2—3—1 formation with Isak in attack is expected here. The new arrival helped Liverpool to a 2-0 win over West Ham at the weekend, scoring his maiden goal for the club in the process.
Sunderland’s last Premier League campaign, in contrast, saw them fail to win any of their five midweek games (D1 L4). They did not score a single goal in those matches. That gulf in rhythm and performance during midweek games could be a decisive factor. Even more telling is their long wait for success at Anfield: Sunderland are winless in 18 straight away league matches against Liverpool, dating all the way back to October 1983. That 1-0 win remains their only Anfield triumph in over four decades. When facing reigning champions away from home, Sunderland’s record reinforces the challenge ahead. They have lost 13 of their last 16 Premier League away games against defending title-winners, with only two victories in that entire period—an impressive 3-0 win at Chelsea in 2010–11 and a 1-0 win at Manchester United in 2013–14. This suggests that while upsets are possible, they are extremely rare. Sunderland’s away matches this season have been notably cagey, producing the fewest goals of any Premier League side on the road—just nine across six matches (3 scored, 6 conceded). A 4—2—3—1 formation with Isidor in attack is expected against Liverpool.