Liverpool come into this match under the greatest of pressure and indeed with a real sense of depression hanging around the club and how they respond now will tell me everything. This week hasn`t been any better for Roy Hodgson, who must wish he was back at Fulham where life was simple. He watched his side get beaten by arch rivals Manchester United this past Sunday, and then in midweek, in front of a home crowd, watched the team slump to a Carling Cup exit at the hands of Northampton Town. Liverpool did rest a lot of the first choice starters for the league cup game, but this is now already crunch time for the club that was once the dominant powerhouse in England. Hodgson will need very badly for Joe Cole to be the playmaker he was brought in to be, and for Torres to quit being so goal shy. Liverpool aren`t solid, and their defence has let pretty much everyone have their way with them. People still don`t want to believe that Liverpool can be this bad, but I think they are. The clubs` situation is a mess.
Solid
Like Liverpool, Steve Bruce`s side come into this match having being dumped out of the Carling Cup. But, they lie 11th, and are also on the back of a very deserved draw against Arsenal last weekend and that result followed their fantastic home win against Manchester City as well so we have massive respect for Sunderland in this one and totally believe they can achieve something here. Gyan, the Ghanain most of you will know from his World Cup heroics, is a new addition to the club and has already netted the first time he pulled on a Sunderland jersey. There might be a bit of a partnership in the making there for the Black Cats, as he plays up front with Darren Bent, who is a danger to any defence he plays against. Although Sunderland look like they will let Liverpool score, I think it will come down to how many Sunderland can score themselves.
Without a winner
Liverpool are priced at around 1.45 and I just don`t think that is worth it at this point with a team that looks shaky, against a visiting team that is going to fight hard throughout. I expect Sunderland to push Liverpool and make them fight hard for a share of the points to end a truly miserable week for Liverpool. Take X or consider a bet on Sunderland with a handicap.
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Prediction:
Tip: X
Odd: 4.50
Bookie: Bet365
Stake: 3 /10
Tipster: Kather
