[Match Day 4] Sunderland AFC vs. Liverpool FC: Preview

• Match at 1730 BST on Saturday, 15^th September 2012.
• Telecast in India on ESPN from 2155 IST.
• Match taking place at The Stadium of Light.

Liverpool travel to Sunderland this weekend to face Martin O’Neill and his men in what promises to be a repeat of the Arsenal debacle, unless Brendan Rodgers can make them score.

The Merseysiders are off to their worst start to a new season in a long time, which has left Rodgers under enormous pressure.

However, his relentless belief in winning games “the Liverpool way” is admirable.

Most new managers who have made the step up to a big club would have had their hand forced under in such circumstances. It has not been the case for Rodgers, so far.

Sunderland FC will look to improve on their league position from last year. In Martin O’Neill, they have a man whose tactical acumen alone will promise them safety from relegation.

Sunderland, with two points from two, currently occupy the 13^th spot in the Premiership standings while Liverpool just have the two clubs trailing them; as they find themselves in the danger zone with just a solitary point to show for in three games played.

Sunderland

Sunderland should get back Lee Cattermole, Phil Bardsley, Wes Brown and David Vaughan into their match day squad for the Reds' visit, as they search for their first league win in the 2012-13 term.

Winger Adam Johnson is likely to miss with a thigh injury, after he withdrew from the England squad for their World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine.

Expected Line-up: Mignolet; Cuéllar, O’ Shea, Gardener, McClean; Cattermole, Sessegnon, Colback, Richardson; Larsson, Campbell

Liverpool

Liverpool, embarrassingly, occupy a spot in the relegation zone as it stands in 18th, and despite their rivals not seriously harboring thoughts of fare welling them to the Championship at season's end, it's nonetheless a horrific start to Brendan Rodgers' reign at Anfield.

Adding further scarlet to the faces of those on Merseyside is that they are struggling with a near-fit squad, with just Joe Cole (hamstring) and Lucas (thigh) their only casualties early in the season.

If Liverpool are looking for motivation, the report from Hillsborough Independent Panel on Wednesday might just provide exactly that.

Expected Line-up: Reina; Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson; Gerrard, Allen, Sahin; Sterling, Suarez, Borini.

Previous Season Meeting

At The Stadium of Light: Sunderland AFC 1-0 Liverpool FC (Bendtner)

At Anfield: Liverpool FC 1-1 Sunderland AFC (Suarez, Larsson)

Key Players

Sunderland: Sessegnon, Larsson

Liverpool: Allen, Gerrard

2012-13 So Far

Liverpool

(L) 3-0 vs. West Bromwich Albion FC at The Hawthorns

(D) 2-2 vs. Manchester City FC at Anfield

(L) 0-2 vs. Arsenal FC at Anfield

Sunderland AFC

(D) 0-0 vs. Arsenal FC at The Emirates

(Postponed) vs. Reading FC at The Stadium of Light

(D) 2-2 vs. Swansea City AFC at Liberty Stadium

Prediction

Sunderland AFC 0-1 Liverpool FC

Remember the Beach Ball? #YNWA

#WECOMENOTTOPLAY

#JFT96