Overview
Liverpool regained their winning streak with a 2-0 win over West Ham last weekend. Although not as dramatic as Sunderland's comeback against Bournemouth, this is still the familiar type of victory that Arne Slot has always looked forward to.
This match is reminiscent of many other performances under the Dutch strategist. The Kop opened the scoring in the 60th minute thanks to a central striker before doubling the gap, similar to what they did against Ipswich in the opening match of last season.
When Lucas Paqueta was sent off in the 84th minute, it also evoked Lesley Ugochukwu's red card in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Burnley in September.
Slot will certainly not complain if other historical milestones continue to repeat themselves in the next match. Liverpool have won their last 12 Premier League games against newly promoted sides. At Anfield, they have also won 26 of their last 28 matches, including a 12-match streak. The last team to leave Anfield with 3 points was Fulham in March 2021.
The Kop also maintained impressive form in midweek, losing only 1 of their last 25 Premier League matches on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, and winning 19 matches. The last time they lost in this situation was a 0-2 loss to Everton in April 2024. Previously, Liverpool's most recent defeat at Anfield in the midweek series was in 2012.
All of Sunderland's Premier League statistics are now historic, as they have been absent from the top flight for nine consecutive seasons. However, in their final Premier League season 2016-2017, they did not win any of their five games in midweek.
Sunderland have also lost 13 of their 16 away games against defending Premier League champions. Their two rare victories came against Chelsea in 2010 2011 (3-0) and Manchester United in 2013 2014 (1-0).
The biggest support for Regis Le Bris's team at the moment is probably the ability to organize a solid defense away from home. Sunderland's away games this season have seen the team score the fewest goals in the league (scoring 3 goals, conceding 6). A total of nine goals is the lowest tally for a team in their first six away games since West Ham in 2022-23.
The "Black Mac" could therefore find a way to exploit the anxiety that is engulfing Anfield - both in the stands and on the pitch. Liverpool have lost two of their last three Premier League home games, as many as they lost in their previous 53 home games combined (W41).
The Kop have not lost back-to-back games at Anfield since a six-game run between January and March 2021. In the presence of many fans, the last time they lost consecutively at home was in September 2012.
Head-to-head record
The head-to-head record between the two teams is not as meaningful as most other Premier League games, as Liverpool and Sunderland have not met for nearly nine years.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games against Sunderland (W6), since a 1-0 defeat in March 2012. The last meeting between the two sides was a 2-2 draw in January 2017, while at Anfield two months earlier, the Reds won 2-0.
These results extend Sunderland's winless streak at Liverpool. The last time they left Anfield with all 3 points was in October 1983, in a 1-0 victory.
However, this could be a rare time for them to look forward to ending this bad run of results.
Score prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Sunderland
The match between Liverpool and Sunderland takes place at 3:15 am on December 4 (Vietnam time).
