Ride The Walrus
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Liverpool will be hoping there are no beach balls on the pitch when they visit the Stadium of Light on Sunday.
The last time they faced the Black Cats at the Wearside venue, the now departed Darren Bent's winning goal famously deflected into the net off such a piece of beach equipment.
But even if there aren't any beach balls, boss Kenny Dalglish knows there is a potential banana skin to avoid, given the Reds have lost all three of their Premier League away games directly following a Europa League matchday this season.
The Reds will be aiming to bounce back after crashing out of the European competition when failing to score against Braga at Anfield on Thursday night.
But, on the plus side, Dalglish's team have taken 17 points from their last eight Premier League matches - only Arsenal (18) have won more in this period.
But it will be tough against a Sunderland side who halted a four-match losing top flight run with a plucky goalless stalemate at Arsenal last time.
Boss Steve Bruce will be hoping the Black Cats have now stopped the rot as he seeks to win for the first time in four league and cup attempts at home following the 3-0 victory over Blackburn on New Year's Day.
Team news
Sunderland boss Bruce has been boosted by the returns of skipper Lee Cattermole. Nedum Onuoha and Bolo Zenden to the squad after injury.
Danny Welbeck returned from injury as a substitute against Arsenal last time and is pushing for a return to the starting line-up.
But others will miss out, with Bruce telling the club's official website: "It's still possibly too early for Fraizer Campbell and definitely too early for Michael Turner and David Meyler.
"We'll assess everything over the next 24 to 48 hours."
Keeper Craig Gordon should again be fit enough to make the bench, meaning Simon Mignolet, who performed heroics at the Emirates, will continue in goal.
Liverpool are likely to field their strongest front pair of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
Owing to Carroll's recent injury problems, the duo have played just 15 minutes together - in the 3-1 win over Manchester United - since both arrived in January.
However, the England international made his first start for the club in their Europa League exit against Braga, for which Suarez was ineligible, and the former Newcastle striker is likely to retain his place with the Uruguayan returning to the line-up.
Defender Daniel Agger may be fit, having missed the last four matches with a knee injury, but the Reds will be without captain Steven Gerrard (groin), defenders Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio (both hamstring) and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (knee).
Possible starting XIs:
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Bramble, Mensah, Ferdinand, Muntari, Onuoha, Henderson, Richardson, Sessegnon, Gyan.
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Wilson, Skrtel, Johnson, Rodriguez, Meireles, Lucas, Kuyt, Suarez, Carroll.
_____
There'll be plenty a beach ball that's for sure.
With Suarez to play against three Ghanians, they'll certainly want revenge.
Thoughts?
The last time they faced the Black Cats at the Wearside venue, the now departed Darren Bent's winning goal famously deflected into the net off such a piece of beach equipment.
But even if there aren't any beach balls, boss Kenny Dalglish knows there is a potential banana skin to avoid, given the Reds have lost all three of their Premier League away games directly following a Europa League matchday this season.
The Reds will be aiming to bounce back after crashing out of the European competition when failing to score against Braga at Anfield on Thursday night.
But, on the plus side, Dalglish's team have taken 17 points from their last eight Premier League matches - only Arsenal (18) have won more in this period.
But it will be tough against a Sunderland side who halted a four-match losing top flight run with a plucky goalless stalemate at Arsenal last time.
Boss Steve Bruce will be hoping the Black Cats have now stopped the rot as he seeks to win for the first time in four league and cup attempts at home following the 3-0 victory over Blackburn on New Year's Day.
Team news
Sunderland boss Bruce has been boosted by the returns of skipper Lee Cattermole. Nedum Onuoha and Bolo Zenden to the squad after injury.
Danny Welbeck returned from injury as a substitute against Arsenal last time and is pushing for a return to the starting line-up.
But others will miss out, with Bruce telling the club's official website: "It's still possibly too early for Fraizer Campbell and definitely too early for Michael Turner and David Meyler.
"We'll assess everything over the next 24 to 48 hours."
Keeper Craig Gordon should again be fit enough to make the bench, meaning Simon Mignolet, who performed heroics at the Emirates, will continue in goal.
Liverpool are likely to field their strongest front pair of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.
Owing to Carroll's recent injury problems, the duo have played just 15 minutes together - in the 3-1 win over Manchester United - since both arrived in January.
However, the England international made his first start for the club in their Europa League exit against Braga, for which Suarez was ineligible, and the former Newcastle striker is likely to retain his place with the Uruguayan returning to the line-up.
Defender Daniel Agger may be fit, having missed the last four matches with a knee injury, but the Reds will be without captain Steven Gerrard (groin), defenders Martin Kelly and Fabio Aurelio (both hamstring) and midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (knee).
Possible starting XIs:
Sunderland: Mignolet, Bardsley, Bramble, Mensah, Ferdinand, Muntari, Onuoha, Henderson, Richardson, Sessegnon, Gyan.
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Wilson, Skrtel, Johnson, Rodriguez, Meireles, Lucas, Kuyt, Suarez, Carroll.
_____
There'll be plenty a beach ball that's for sure.
With Suarez to play against three Ghanians, they'll certainly want revenge.
Thoughts?
