By Michael Nsikan Richard – December 3rd 2025
Date: December 3rd, 2025
Venue: Anfield, Merseyside
Kick-Off: 9:15pm
Current Form & Table Position
It’s been quite the season so far, hasn’t it? Sunderland find themselves in 6th spot with 22 points after 13 games, and here’s the kicker—they’re actually sitting above Liverpool, who are down in 8th with 21 points. The Reds have won 4 and lost 6 out of their 10 matches, while the Black Cats have picked up 4 wins alongside 2 losses, and 4 draws.
Think about that for a second. When these two sides last met 9 years back, Liverpool was on the up under Jürgen Klopp. How times have changed.
Recent Results
Liverpool: There might be light at the end of the tunnel. They put in a solid shift against West Ham on Sunday, coming away with a 2-0 victory. Florian Wirtz looked sharp, and Alexander Isak finally got off the mark in the league. That said, they’ve dropped 5 out of their last 8 across all competitions, which isn’t exactly encouraging.
Sunderland: The visitors are riding high after an incredible comeback on Saturday. Down 2-0 at home to Bournemouth, they somehow turned it around to win 3-2. They’ve only tasted defeat once in their last 6 league outings, which tells you everything about their current momentum.
Team News & Lineups
Liverpool: Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have been holding things together at the back. The midfield 3 of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai should start again. Good news on the injury front—no fresh concerns to worry about.
Predicted Lineup: Alisson; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Gakpo, Isak
Sunderland: They’re missing defender Aji Alese and midfielder Habib Diarra, but that’s about it. Robin Roefs will be between the sticks again, and we could see former Feyenoord captain Lutsharel Geertruida featuring in the backline.
Predicted Lineup: Roefs; Mukiele, Geertruida, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Xhaka, Sadiki; Le Fee; Traore, Brobbey
Key Talking Points
Sunderland’s Renaissance: What Regis Le Bris has done with this squad deserves serious credit. Granit Xhaka’s been pulling the strings as captain, and they’ve already taken points off Chelsea and Arsenal this season. Not bad for a side many expected to struggle.
Liverpool’s Struggles: Yes, they beat West Ham, but is this the turning point everyone’s been waiting for? Or just another brief glimpse of what this team could be? The jury’s still out.
Tactical Battle: Arne Slot’s been doing his homework. He’s already spoken about how Sunderland plays—high tempo, willing to take risks defensively, and grafters across the entire 11. This won’t be straightforward.
Prediction
It seems the bookies have Liverpool as overwhelming favorites—around a 75% chance of winning. But honestly? Sunderland’s form against Liverpool’s inconsistency makes this one of those games that could go either way. The odds don’t tell the whole story here.
Both teams need this badly. Liverpool have to show that the West Ham result wasn’t just a one-off, while Sunderland want to prove they belong in that top-6 conversation.
Likely Outcome: Liverpool 2-2 Sunderland
PREVIEW: Chelsea vs Liverpool News, H2H, Injuries
