Dan Rimmer's Reds Blog

Post #14 - Barclays Premier League Preview - Liverpool v Sunderland

Just before I start the preview of LFC's next match, may I express my greatest condolences to the families and friends of those who were on Flight MH370, this according to the recently sad news that we have all received with regards the evidence in the past hour of writing this. 

It was another great away day for Liverpool on Saturday, and the past three games have all been away days so it makes a change that the Reds return to Anfield to play Sunderland on Wednesday night. It seems like it has been ages since their 4-3 victory over Swansea City at the end of February, but now it is up to the fans to welcome their side back into their stadium with immense passion and wonderful support. The first fixture of two against the Black Cats saw the return of Luis Suarez to Barclays Premier League football after his ten match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea at Anfield at the end of last season. How far the Uruguayan has come on since that day is unbelievable, but yet still not a surprise because of his qualities as a player and as a person. We have all come to agree as fans that he will, quite literally, do anything to win games for Liverpool, and never intended to win his side any less than three points.

He scored two goals on his return in September and has since added 26 more goals to his tally, with the latest coming in the form a hat trick against fellow relegation rivals Cardiff City. The manner in which he goes about dealing with decisions that don't go his way has changed only in a way that benefits himself and the team around him, without losing that great desire to see his side do well all of the time. 

Again the cliche of every game being treated like a cup final really does need to ring true because of how close it is between all of the teams at the top end of the table, and that means that now, for Liverpool, there are eight cup finals left to play. Speaking of cup finals, we all know that our North East opponents participated in one in the shape of the Capital One Cup final a few weeks ago. That day really does show the ups and downs of Sunderland this season and emphasizes their unpredictability.  I'm looking forward to see how the table shapes up come the end of Wednesday night mainly because I will be paying as much attention to the number of matches all of the sides in the League have played, as well as just the points on the board.

The participation of Premier League teams in the latter stages of the FA Cup and League Cup means that teams such as Liverpool have played less games than others, or far less games if you are Manchester City. This has caused much confusion among supporters of top flight clubs because their teams have played more or less games than other teams, some of which are rivals for higher places in the League. The Reds were due to play this home fixture Sunderland after Southampton, which would have broken up the away day schedule into two, but was postponed because of the Mackem's cup final duties. This though perhaps was a blessing in disguise as Brendan Rodgers has sent his warriors around the country to show that his side are a real force, and have every intention of winning every game, proven even more so by their 12 goals in their three away games. 

Without trying to jump the gun or jinx anything before this one, it does seem as if Gus Poyet's men have deteriorated since the defeat at the hands of Man City in the League Cup final, having also had any hope of a Wembley return this season ended by Hull City in the FA Cup Quarter Final, as well as still being stuck in a relegation scrap. What is very good for Liverpool for two reasons is that one man that has been significantly influential for Sunderland this season is the Reds' loaned-out Italian, Fabio Borini.

It will be good to see him in the squad next season because of his performances this season for one reason, and the other is that he is cup tied, or of an 'ineligible state' for this game because he is still a Liverpool player,  and therefore won't cause his employers any damage on Wednesday. The young man was sent on loan by Rodgers in an attempt to see him get regular Premier League football, and the Northern Irishman discussed this in detail in a Monday Pre-Match Press Conference at Melwood.

"Fabio went out to get games, go on loan and play more regularly than he was playing here. He has done that and showed with some of the goals he has scored - particularly against the big teams - the qualities that he has. The goal he scored in the Capital One Cup final was a fantastic goal."

Certainly one to look forward to as Liverpool look to getting a seventh consecutive win in midweek. It is live from Anfield on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD on Wednesday night. Lets hope we win!