Liverpool Host Sunderland With a Point to Prove After Inconsistent Run

Liverpool vs Sunderland. Wednesday 2 December 2026. Anfield. On paper, this is a home win. But football is not played on paper, and Liverpool have given me enough reasons for concern lately that I am not taking anything for granted.

Liverpool's Form: Good Enough, But Not Convincing

Three wins and two losses from their last five Premier League matches. That is the reality. Liverpool beat Brighton 2-0 and Brentford 2-1, and got the job done 1-0 against Bournemouth. Fine. But they shipped three goals to Manchester City and could not find a single one against Arsenal at home. That is unacceptable at this level. The thing is, Liverpool have the quality to be clinical. When they are not, it is an attitude question as much as anything else.

They have kept two clean sheets in five. That tells you the defence is capable. But conceding five in those same five matches tells you there is work to do. Standards drop, mistakes creep in. You cannot have it both ways.

Liverpool also have injury problems to manage. They are carrying two suspended players with returns not expected until late January 2027, two moderate injuries picked up in mid-October, and a long-term absentee not due back until the end of December. That is a significant chunk of the squad unavailable. It tests your squad depth and your desire to compete without your best options. End of.

Sunderland's Form: A Dire Situation

One draw and four losses from five Premier League matches. Sunderland drew 0-0 with Leeds, and that is the highlight. They lost to Coventry 1-3, to Bournemouth 0-2, to Brighton 0-2, and shipped five goals in losing 3-5 to Manchester City. They have conceded twelve goals in five matches. Twelve. That is not a defensive system under pressure. That is a backline that has stopped competing.

Sunderland are also dealing with three major injury absences, with two of those players not expected back until January 2027. That matters. But injuries are not an excuse for the basics. You still have to compete. You still have to show desire. From what I have seen in that form record, there is precious little of either.

Head to Head: Low Scoring, Liverpool's Favour

In the two previous Premier League meetings between these sides, Liverpool have won one and drawn one. Two goals scored by Liverpool across those two games, one conceded. Liverpool kept a clean sheet in one of those meetings. Sunderland have not won either. The head-to-head does not give Sunderland any basis for confidence here.

The Verdict

Listen, I do not need to overcomplicate this. Liverpool, even in inconsistent form, are a different proposition to what Sunderland have faced recently. The thing is, Sunderland have not kept a clean sheet in four of their last five, and their defensive numbers are alarming. Liverpool have kept two in their last five and shown they can be solid when the attitude is right.

I am backing Liverpool to win this and keep a clean sheet. Their defence, when organised and switched on, has shown it can shut teams out. Sunderland have not scored in three of their last five Premier League matches. The ingredients are there for a controlled home performance. Whether Liverpool show up with the right mentality after their recent inconsistency is the only real question. It should not even be a question at Anfield. Compete. Win. End of.