Media mash-up continues as a batch of local reporters preview Sunderland’s latest fixture providing insight, analysis and opinion.
Next up, Nick Barnes, James Hunter and Richard Mennear preview the Lads’ trip to Anfield.
Nick Barnes (@Tweed_Barnesy) – BBC Radio Newcastle
Liverpool are unbeaten since August 20th. They’re unbeaten at home in five Premier League outings and they’ve conceded only 4 goals at Anfield. The immensity of the task facing Sunderland this weekend is not understated. Liverpool put five past Hull and six past Watford. But it would be SO Sunderland to go to Anfield and win a League match for the first time since 1983. Will Victor Anichebe line up with Jermain Defoe again? Surely he has to despite the fear of Liverpool’s dominance in midfield and the potency of their attack. Sunderland have to give themselves an outlet and if they travel in the belief that anything they get from Anfield is a bonus then it will pay them to be brave and ambitious. Steven Pienaar and possibly Seb Larsson and Jan Kirchhoff could be available and perhaps Sunderland can defy the odds. Larsson scored the equaliser at Anfield on the opening day in 2011 and it would be sweet if a German engineered a result against Jurgen Klopp, if Kirchhoff is fit enough to return in any capacity. A tall order but let’s dream.
James Hunter (@JHunterChron) – The Chronicle
Back-to-back wins have lifted Sunderland off the bottom – and lifted the mood on Wearside. But this weekend's trip to Liverpool is a daunting prospect, with Jurgen Klopp's side second in the table and being tipped for a tilt at the title. No-one expects Sunderland to win at Anfield and most expect the Black Cats to return empty-handed, so in that respect the pressure is off this weekend – anything gained at Liverpool will be viewed as a bonus. Sunderland will have to be defensively strong against Liverpool, just to avoid being swept away. But, even if the Reds are just too good on the day, Sunderland must make sure they do not suffer a heavy defeat that would knock the confidence they have developed from those wins against Bournemouth and Hull City.
Richard Mennear (@RichMennearJP) – Sunderland Echo
Next up for a Sunderland side buoyed by two wins on the bounce is a daunting trip to Liverpool. Or at least, daunting on paper. Jurgen Klopp has got his Liverpool side firing on all cylinders this season and the Reds have a very strong chance of winning the Premier League this year. But Sunderland have nothing to fear. Confidence is sky high after the brilliant win at Bournemouth followed by another three points against Hull City, the first on home soil this season. And crucially Sunderland have recently proved they have what it takes to get a result at Anfield. Two-nil down last season with 20 minutes to go, Sunderland still managed to come away with a crucial point. Everyone would no doubt settle for the same again this season. If Jermain Defoe and Victor Anichebe are on song again then Sunderland have every chance of coming back to Wearside with at least a point.
The views expressed within this article are the views of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Sunderland AFC.