By Sneha Santra

Anfield will roar as Liverpool host Sunderland, a clash where injuries, tactical battles and pressing duels will take centre stage. Liverpool enter the match with injuries, stretched rotations and little room for error in the title race. Sunderland come with discipline, structure and ruthless precision. If Liverpool doesn’t dominate the midfield and come up with a strong strategy, the game can slip fast. With thin margins and an astronomical amount of stakes, Liverpool must get the midfield and defence right. 

Challenges for Liverpool Amid Injury Woes

Liverpool’s biggest vulnerability heading into Sunderland lies in the absence or return from injury of several key midfielders. First, the Reds’ ability to control the midfield and shield the defense will be compromised. The absence of Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak due to injury. Along with that, Giovanni Leoni remains a long-time absentee. 

During the pre-match press conference, Reds boss Arne Slot expressed the possibility of Florian Wirtz, Joe Gomez and Alexander Isak playing three times in a week: “I think they are not able to play for 90 minutes - that’s for sure. I have to wait and see how they feel today, if they are able tomorrow, from the start again. All three of them can be involved in all three games if they don’t get an injury; that’s a fair assumption to make.”

Slot also confirmed that Mohammed Salah will join up with Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations on December 15.  

Liverpool’s midfield is the battlefield. Sunderland thrives on exploiting the spaces between lines, punishing slow transactions with lightning counters. Every misplaced pass, every delayed press risk opening the channels that can turn possession into danger.

Black Cats boss Regis Le Bris said : “We have a strong group. We don’t have any injuries, and the players who haven’t played much before will have opportunities to play. I think they can contribute as well. The group is powerful with different options. We will see.” 

It is safe enough to say, Le Bris is having faith and belief in his team with a compact shape, clarity in roles and a clear strategy. 

The Blueprint Liverpool Must Follow

For Liverpool to succeed, a lot of things have to go in their favour. The most effective route is to stabilise the midfield with staggered roles. One midfielder anchoring to guard counters, the other stepping into the right half-space to connect play. This restores balance and prevents Sunderland from exploiting central gaps. 

Additionally, Liverpool needs to attack through quick diagonal switches. Off the ball, the press must be calm and coordinated, triggered only when Sunderland receives under pressure. This forces rushed clearances and keeps the game under Liverpool’s control. With tight defensive positioning behind the ball, Sunderland’s counter-attacking threat becomes far less effective.

Where Liverpool Hold The Edge

Regis Le Bris, the Frenchman engineering Sunderland’s ascent, views Anfield as “Privilege earned through promotions grind.” Sunderland’s ultra-compact 4-2-3-1 has conceded only 13 goals, but it cracks when midfield is repeatedly overloaded (half-spaces exposed against Arsenal and Chelsea), when rapid diagonal switches isolate full-backs Trai Hume and Reinildo on the flanks, and when elite pressing forces build-up errors. 

Liverpool in their last ten meetings with Sunderland have won six, drawn three, and lost just once, giving them a solid edge alongside a dominant 60% head-to-head win rate. 

Liverpool’s edge comes from their superior home form, stronger individual quality and a pressing structure that naturally disrupts Sunderland’s compact 4-2-3-1. With players who can overload half spaces and isolate full-backs. Liverpool is better equipped when it comes to breaking down tight defensive blocks alongside historical dominance and experience in controlling transitions at Anfield.

Final Verdict