Liverpool v Sunderland team news & stats

Mark Holmes
Christian Benteke: Liverpool striker enjoys playing against Sunderland

Christian Benteke: Liverpool striker enjoys playing against Sunderland

Liverpool are unbeaten in six Premier League games against Sunderland going into Saturday’s latest encounter at Anfield.

Team news

Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen is expected to overcome a shoulder injury.

Strikers Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi and playmaker Philippe Coutinho all returned to training but will not be available until next week’s FA Cup replay at West Ham at the earliest.

Defender Martin Skrtel has suffered a minor setback in his rehabilitation from a hamstring problem and will be out for a further two to three weeks.

Sunderland have doubts over Yann M’Vila and Jeremain Lens, who have foot and groin problems respectively, but Younes Kaboul is fit again following a hamstring injury, while January signing Wahbi Khazri could make his first start.

Opta stats

  • Liverpool have won five of their last six Premier League meetings with Sunderland, drawing the other.
  • James Milner has scored five Premier League goals against Sunderland, more than versus any other opponent in the competition.
  • Christian Benteke has scored six goals in seven Premier League appearances against Sunderland.
  • Benteke is two goals away from netting 50 in the Premier League (currently 48) but hasn’t scored in his five league appearances since scoring the winner against Sunderland in December.
  • Roberto Firmino has scored four goals in his last four Premier League matches for the Reds; this after scoring just once in his opening 17 apps in the competition.
  • Liverpool averaged more points under Brendan Rodgers in the Premier League this season (1.5) than they have under Jurgen Klopp (1.4).
  • Liverpool have won twice as many Premier League away games under Klopp (4) as they have home games (2).
  • Sunderland have scored in each of their last seven Premier League away games, their best run in the competition since April 2013.
  • Sunderland have the worst points-per-game average of any current Premier League side in the month of February (0.63).
  • Sunderland have made a league-low 1408 successful passes in the final third of the pitch this season and have the lowest passing accuracy in this area of the pitch (55.7%).

Predictions

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