Sunderland vs. Liverpool: Premier League 2025-26 Preview & Team News

Stadium of Light, Wednesday 11 February 2025, 20:15 GMT

Sunderland’s remarkable Premier League home record faces its stiffest examination yet when Liverpool arrive on Wearside, with the newly promoted side still unbeaten in front of their own fans and chasing a club-record 21st successive top-flight home game without defeat.

The Black Cats sit ninth in the table, three places and two points below a Liverpool side whose away form has been erratic at best. Arne Slot’s men have won only twice on the road all season, drawing three and losing five, and have not beaten a promoted side in four attempts this campaign – a sequence last endured in 1981.

Sunderland’s fortress has been built on contrasting fortunes. Their last two league fixtures at the Stadium of Light ended in victory, while away defeats to Arsenal (3-0) and West Ham (3-1) exposed the gap to the division’s elite. Régis Le Bris’s side did, however, eliminate Everton on penalties in the FA Cup at Goodison Park after a 1-1 draw.

Nilson Angulo, signed in January, is available for his home debut, while Noah Sadiki has shaken off injury. Captain Granit Xhaka (injured) and winger Bertrand Traoré (also injured) remain out, with right-back Trai Hume retaining the armband and anchoring a side that has shipped six goals in its last two away fixtures.

Liverpool’s casualty list is concentrated at right-back. Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley are injured, Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended, and Joe Gomez will undergo a late fitness test after returning to training on Tuesday. Should Gomez fall short, Curtis Jones or Wataru Endō will continue as an auxiliary defender, further thinning a midfield already missing Szoboszlai. Florian Wirtz is expected to start in the No. 10 role behind Mohamed Salah, Randall Kolo-Ekitiké and Cody Gakpo, leaving Federico Chiesa and 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha as the only experienced attacking cover.

Slot acknowledged Sunderland’s threat, noting their unbeaten run includes home fixtures against both Manchester City and Arsenal. Le Bris, reflecting on the weekend loss at Arsenal, insisted his side “were bold and aggressive in our high press” and believes the squad now has “more solutions to fix different problems.”

History offers Sunderland encouragement: all three of Liverpool Premier League defeats to the Wearsiders have come at the Stadium of Light, though the most recent was in 2012. With the hosts unbeaten under the lights and the visitors desperate to arrest a four-game winless streak against promoted clubs, Wednesday night promises a raucous, high-stakes encounter.

Referee Chris Kavanagh will be assisted by Dan Cook and Marc Perry, with Darren England overseeing VAR.