Second from top Liverpool host second from bottom Sunderland in one of Saturday’s 3pm kick-offs. One result is surely on the cards here but there is some value on the market.
Liverpool have been one of the most impressive teams in the Premier League this season as their attractive and fluid style of play has worked wonders. Many see them as genuine title contenders as they sit just one point off top spot as we got into the busy festive period.
However, there are some big questions marks currently sitting over Liverpool’s heads. The first of these is obviously the defence which still concedes far too many goals. The Reds have let in 14 goals in just 12 matches this season – more than any other side in the top five – whilst they have kept just two clean sheets in the league during the first four months of the campaign.
There is a famous saying that ‘defences win titles’ and if Liverpool do not improve in this aspect then they may start dropping.
The reason they will start falling down the league is because one day the in-form striking department will have an off-day and so when that day comes, Liverpool will be unable to rely on a good defence to pick up points. That off-day may come sooner than expected as we enter the busy Christmas schedule. Can manager Jurgen Klopp keep his side’s high energy pressing style going throughout this notoriously hectic period? I am not sure. In fact, I’m not even sure Klopp is confident as he has previously bemoaned the lack of a winter break in England.
Whilst these question marks are still prevalent, Liverpool should still be leaving Anfield with maximum points on Saturday afternoon.
Although Liverpool are the favourites, Sunderland have finally shown a bit of fight in the last couple of matches and have managed to pull off two consecutive victories against Bournemouth and Hull City respectively. Although these wins do not lift the Black Cats out of the relegation zone, they do mean that they are only three points off safety rather than the nine they were a few weeks ago.
A big reason for these wins has been the form of striker Victor Anichebe. The Nigerian has become a great focal point for the Sunderland attack and, after a couple of seasons of hardship at West Bromwich Albion, the 28-year-old looks to be brimming with confidence as he has scored three times in his last two outings. No doubt he has been helped by manager David Moyes who Anichebe also worked under at his first club, Everton.
Despite being born in Lagos, Anichebe is a scouser through and though and, having spent so much time at Liverpool’s rivals Everton, will be desperate to score against his former city rivals.
Even though Sunderland are on a decent run, going to Anfield will be a completely different test to facing fellow relegation rivals Bournemouth and Hull and the Black Cats leaky defence, which has kept just one Premier League clean sheet all season, may really struggle against this potent Reds attack.
The Liverpool win here is of course pretty much a banker but offers no value, however, I think the market of ‘Liverpool to Win & Both Teams to Score’ is excellent value at 8/5. This bet has won for me on numerous occasions this season (and indeed has won on all but one of Liverpool’s home matches this season) and I expect the same here. As previously mentioned, Jurgen Klopp’s men are frightening going forward but are dodgy at the back and, even though Sunderland are quite a poor side, they have scored five goals in their last three games and are thus capable of causing their opposition problems. The Anichebe factor could come into play here and it will be interesting to see how Liverpool’s rather weak defenders handle a unit like him, whilst famed goalscorer Jermain Defoe reached 150 Premier League goals last weekend and will be hungry for another on Saturday. All in all, although Liverpool should win, Sunderland have a very good chance of finding the back of the net here.
A market you might consider safe is ‘Philippe Coutinho to Score & Liverpool to Win’ at 6/5. Offered as an ‘Enhanced Odds’ offer by William Hill, this bet makes plenty of appeal. The Brazilian international is arguably the most important out of Liverpool’s front three of himself, compatriot Roberto Firminio and Sadio Mane and has blossomed into a top player in recent times. The 24-year-old has been in fantastic form this season with five goals and five assists, whilst he has two goals in his last two home matches. He should be able to make it three in three on Saturday against relegation-threatened Sunderland and I think the chance to couple that with a likely Liverpool win at a very nice 6/5 is irresistible.
With this likely to be a high-scoring match, there’s a bit of a toss-up between ‘Over 4.5 Goals’, at 9/4, & ‘Liverpool to Win & Over 3.5 Goals’, at 11/10, however, the latter seems to be the best option. It’s not hard to see Liverpool opening up this Sunderland defence but, at the same time, Sunderland won’t go without chances and plenty of goals in an inevitable win looks highly likely.
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