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Preview: Liverpool vs. Sunderland

Sports Mole previews the Premier League match between Liverpool and Sunderland at Anfield as the Reds go in search of a third win in the space of seven days.

Liverpool will be looking to complete a perfect Premier League week when they entertain Sunderland on Saturday.

The Reds have collected maximum points from their last two matches to ease the pressure on Brendan Rodgers and climb back into the top half of the table.

Steven Gerrard was restored to the side and scored on Tuesday as they inflicted more misery on struggling Leicester City with a 3-1 triumph at the King Power Stadium.

That followed a late 1-0 home success over Stoke City, and another winnable game presents itself to the Merseysiders this weekend as they look to make it three in seven days, having previously gone five games without one.

Although Sunderland have only lost four matches this season - two fewer than Liverpool - they have the joint-least victories in the division with just two from 14 matches. Their eight draws, three of which have come in their previous four outings, have restricted them to 14th in the table.

Gus Poyet may have been thinking that at least another point was on the cards when his side took the lead against Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.

However, two Sergio Aguero specials helped the champions turn things around and the Black Cats were eventually on the end of a 4-1 defeat.

Poyet will be forced into at least one change from his midweek starting XI, with Liverpool loanee Sebastian Coates ineligible to face his parent club. Wes Brown should be recalled to fill that defensive void.

Another loan star, Inter Milan's Ricky Alvarez, made his comeback off the bench and may be considered for a start as injuries to Adam Johnson and Emmanuele Giaccherini have left Sunderland short of creativity.

Former Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell should also be included for the visitors, but he may not be up against Gerrard in the centre of the park as Rodgers considers resting the former England captain ahead of the make-or-break Champions League tie with Basel at Anfield on Tuesday.

Glen Johnson, Lucas Leiva, Raheem Sterling and Rickie Lambert could also be saved, meaning that Alberto Moreno, Emre Can and Fabio Borini, who scored seven goals during a loan spell at Sunderland last season to help keep them in the top flight, are all in contention for starts.

Strike duo Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli, as well as Mamadou Sakho, Suso and Jon Flanagan remain sidelined for the Reds, who are unbeaten in their last 12 home matches against Sunderland in all competitions.

Liverpool:

Form in Premier League: DLLLWW
Form in all competitions: LLLDWW

Possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno; Allen, Can, Henderson; Coutinho; Lallana, Borini

Sunderland:

Recent form: LWDDDL

Possible starting lineup: Pantilimon; Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, Reveillere; Cattermole, Rodwell, Larsson; WIckham, Alvarez, Fletcher

Sports Mole says: 1-0


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Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring his and Liverpool's second goal against Manchester United in the Premier League at Old Trafford on March 16, 2014
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
3Arsenal20117239182140
4Chelsea21107441261537
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Bournemouth219753225734
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham217953230230
10Brentford218494037328
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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