Sunderland vs Liverpool
Premier League
Stadium of Light
29/09/2013
16:00
Liverpool
travel to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland on Sunday, as the reds look
to avenge their first set of consecutive defeats since February. The sides
shared the points in the corresponding fixture last season, as the match
finished one-one.
Brendan Rodgers’ team, after a productive start to 2013/14, have regressed recently; the reds have not won in four games. Significantly, their sudden loss of form has coincided with the absence through injury of playmaker Philippe Coutinho. The cunning, subtle Brazilian is, it goes without saying, a key part of Liverpool’s team and his shoulder injury has left the reds looking disjointed. His importance to his team is highlighted by the fact that Liverpool have failed to score a goal since the attacking-midfielder was withdrawn against Swansea. Again, this is no coincidence.
Brendan Rodgers’ team, after a productive start to 2013/14, have regressed recently; the reds have not won in four games. Significantly, their sudden loss of form has coincided with the absence through injury of playmaker Philippe Coutinho. The cunning, subtle Brazilian is, it goes without saying, a key part of Liverpool’s team and his shoulder injury has left the reds looking disjointed. His importance to his team is highlighted by the fact that Liverpool have failed to score a goal since the attacking-midfielder was withdrawn against Swansea. Again, this is no coincidence.
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| Raheem Sterling scored past now-Liverpool goalkeeper, Simon Mignolet, as Liverpool beat Sunderland 3-0 at Anfield last season. |
Another substantial loss for Liverpool has been Glen Johnson. Since being forced off with an ankle injury against Manchester United on September 1, the right-back’s absence has been noticeable. Attacking width from both full-backs is vital in Brendan Rodgers’ system, thus Johnson not being in the team has hindered Liverpool.
One
indisputable positive for Liverpool, however, is the return to availability of
the mercurial Luis Suarez. After completing his 10-match ban for biting
Branislav Ivanovic, the Uruguayan was thrust straight back into the reds’
starting line-up by manager Brendan Rodgers, against Manchester United on
Wednesday night. Suarez looked lively; constantly harrying defenders and making
himself a nuisance for the opposition. He also resumed his developing
partnership with fellow striker Daniel Sturridge, linking up routinely with the
Englishman. Sturridge, who has scored seven of Liverpool’s last nine Premier
League goals, will finally be able to share the goal-scoring burden and
responsibility for his side with another prolific marksman. One segment of
Suarez’s game which will improve as he settles back into life on the pitch in
the Premier League, somewhat worryingly for opposing players, is his match
sharpness; he, understandably, showed one or two signs of rustiness on
Wednesday night, particularly in-front of goal. As I mentioned, I’d expect this
to change over the coming weeks.
Sunderland,
who have not kept a clean sheet in their last nine Premier League games,
approach Sunday’s clash void of a full-time manager, after last week’s sacking
of Paolo Di Canio. Kevin Ball will take charge of The Black Cats as caretaker
boss for the second time, after a spell in the role back in 2006.
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| Paolo Di Canio's brief spell in charge at Sunderland, was brought to an end as he was sacked last Sunday. |
Liverpool
goalkeeper Simon Mignolet will of course return to his previous club on Sunday,
after Sunderland brought the impressive stopper to the Premier League in 2010.
The Belgian has made more saves than any other goalkeeper in the league this
season (25), with a saves to shots ratio of 89%: the second best rate of all
regular Premier League ‘keepers. In contrast, his predecessor on Wearside, Keiren
Westwood, has a saves ratio of 54%, the lowest of any ‘keeper to feature in all
five games this season.
Whether
Paolo Di Canio’s departure and a change of leadership will reinvigorate
Sunderland, as commonly happens, I am unsure. But even if Kevin Ball does
garner more togetherness and an improvement from the home side, I’d still
expect Liverpool – buoyed by the return of Luis Suarez – to take advantage of
Sunderland’s porous defence and win the game.
My Line-up
Brendan Rodgers went with a 3-4-1-2 system against Manchester United, and being a big advocate of any formation containing wing-backs, I wouldn't change a lot against Sunderland.
The system offers a healthy balance between attack and defence, and with the right players in the right roles, it can be destructive. The two wing-backs marauding down their respective touchline and providing the team's offensive width, lessens the need to deploy wide players further up the pitch, resulting in your team dominating centrally. The most prominent advantage of this sort of formation, though, is the unfamiliarity with it for opposing teams. Runs are made from different angles than most defenders are used to playing against, so your attackers will often be left with glaring opportunities. Steven Gerrard's pinpoint long pass to Jose Enrique, which found the left-sided player in acres of space behind Manchester United's defence on Wednesday night is a prime example. Had the Spaniard's touch been better, he would have had a chance to score or set up a simple goal.
However, I would make one or two minor changes to the system deployed by Liverpool on Wednesday. Brendan Rodgers selected Victor Moses in the 'number 10' role, which for me was counter-productive; instead of having a player centrally behind two strikers, I'd play one centre-forward and two players, a little withdrawn from him, attacking from Slightly wider positions - Moses and Luis Suarez. This would make the system more of a 3-4-3. My reasoning behind this slight moderation is simple: the absence of Philippe Coutinho. By all means, when the Brazilian returns, play him in the '10' behind two forwards - Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. But for now, while Victor Moses is in the team, we've got to accommodate him and look to play Nigerian where he is most comfortable - attacking inwardly from the left.
Elsewhere, when playing three at the back, your central midfielders have an opportunity to take more risks and press higher up, taking advantage of the insurance provided by three centre-backs behind them. This is something Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard did not do enough of against United. I've had murmurings that they are not fit enough to perform the role combatively, but it was their starting positions which were too deep, which suggests they were wrongly instructed. Because of the cover of the three centre-backs, the need to deploy a genuine defensive midfielder is lessened, so I'd replace Lucas with Jordan Henderson, when Glen Johnson returns from injury at right wing-back. That is, of course, if we continue with this system.
Brendan Rodgers went with a 3-4-1-2 system against Manchester United, and being a big advocate of any formation containing wing-backs, I wouldn't change a lot against Sunderland.
The system offers a healthy balance between attack and defence, and with the right players in the right roles, it can be destructive. The two wing-backs marauding down their respective touchline and providing the team's offensive width, lessens the need to deploy wide players further up the pitch, resulting in your team dominating centrally. The most prominent advantage of this sort of formation, though, is the unfamiliarity with it for opposing teams. Runs are made from different angles than most defenders are used to playing against, so your attackers will often be left with glaring opportunities. Steven Gerrard's pinpoint long pass to Jose Enrique, which found the left-sided player in acres of space behind Manchester United's defence on Wednesday night is a prime example. Had the Spaniard's touch been better, he would have had a chance to score or set up a simple goal.
However, I would make one or two minor changes to the system deployed by Liverpool on Wednesday. Brendan Rodgers selected Victor Moses in the 'number 10' role, which for me was counter-productive; instead of having a player centrally behind two strikers, I'd play one centre-forward and two players, a little withdrawn from him, attacking from Slightly wider positions - Moses and Luis Suarez. This would make the system more of a 3-4-3. My reasoning behind this slight moderation is simple: the absence of Philippe Coutinho. By all means, when the Brazilian returns, play him in the '10' behind two forwards - Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. But for now, while Victor Moses is in the team, we've got to accommodate him and look to play Nigerian where he is most comfortable - attacking inwardly from the left.
Elsewhere, when playing three at the back, your central midfielders have an opportunity to take more risks and press higher up, taking advantage of the insurance provided by three centre-backs behind them. This is something Lucas Leiva and Steven Gerrard did not do enough of against United. I've had murmurings that they are not fit enough to perform the role combatively, but it was their starting positions which were too deep, which suggests they were wrongly instructed. Because of the cover of the three centre-backs, the need to deploy a genuine defensive midfielder is lessened, so I'd replace Lucas with Jordan Henderson, when Glen Johnson returns from injury at right wing-back. That is, of course, if we continue with this system.
View From the Other Side
Sunderland fan @DaveyRobson - "1-1"
Sunderland fan @DaveyRobson - "1-1"
Sunderland fan @SunderlandAFC11 - "1-0 Sunderland. results in your 3 games have been poor same with us really but with us without a manager we got something to prove"
Sunderland fan @JAReveley - "2-2. Entertaining game. Henderson and Moses for you. Altidore x 2 for us."
One to Watch
Emanuele Giaccherini - The Italian international has shown signs of brilliance so far at Sunderland, and with two goals to his name already, he has begun his career on Wearside promisingly. The diminutive attacking-midfielder is a cunning, creative player and he will need to be watched carefully by the reds as he floats into pockets of space in dangerous areas. Having assured him of a new, central role by caretaker boss, Kevin Ball, Sunderland clearly see Giaccherini as a pivotal player.
Sunderland‘s Last Six
WLLLWD
Liverpool‘s Last Six
LLDWWW
Odds
Sunderland - 9/2
Draw - 29/10
Liverpool - 3/4
Sunderland - 9/2
Draw - 29/10
Liverpool - 3/4
My Prediction
Sunderland 0 - 2 Liverpool
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