Liverpool v Sunderland Betting Preview
The Reds are on the rise, despite some patchy form. They clawed their way up into ninth on the weekend following a comfortable 3-0 win over the struggling QPR. So now Brendan Rodgers’ men can set their sights even higher if they start the new year well. Sunderland themselves are in patchy form as well, so this could be a hard fought game between the two sides. Can Martin O’Neill’s men frustrate the Reds out of a victory at Anfield?
Liverpool v Sunderland Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Liverpool 2/5, Draw 7/2, Sunderland 15/2
Liverpool v Sunderland Recommended Bet:
With a brace from the inspiring Luis Suarez, Liverpool eased past QPR in their last match to get back to winning ways after a miserable Boxing Day defeat at Stoke. So the Reds are running on a WLWLW streak in the Premier League at the moment, and at Anfield this season they have been indifferent, winning four, drawing three and losing three. They have scored at a rate of 1.4 goals per game at home, which isn’t high and they have conceded at a rate of 1 per game, which explains why they have flitted between results. They have had more shots off target than anyone else in the league this season. There are inconsistencies in the side, and with Luis Suarez carrying all goalscoring responsibilities, they are a one man team. But when they get things right, when Suarez is firing, backing up the neat football that they can produce, Liverpool look a decent side capable of more. A couple of additions in forward and creativity department in January could help them immensely. So this will be a tough game for them against Sunderland, as the Reds have only won two of the last seven against the Black Cats in the Premier League. Still, there are positives to Liverpool’s game when they are not being wasteful and will be favourites to take the win. January hasn’t been a highly profitable month for the Reds in Premier League history, with them winning just six of 21 previous EPL games in January. Suarez is once again going to be the key for everything that Liverpool does.
Sunderland couldn’t cope with the tricky and pace of Tottenham’s passing as they lost 2-1 at the Stadium of Light on the weekend. Still, there has been a bit of an upturn in the form of Sunderland, winning three of their last five, the trio wins coming with a clean sheet in tow, including the triumph over Man City. But their defence looked lost and terribly static against Spurs. Martin O’Neill’s men could face the same problems that they encountered against Spurs. If the defence isn’t there for the Black Cats, then they don’t have the firepower to deal with flaws at the back. The last four meetings have all gone under 2.5 goals and that will be the key to success against Liverpool. Sunderland have kept 15 clean sheets in the Premier League during 2012, only Man City managed more than that. They need to dig deep and find that defensive solidity to get anything out of this trip. Sunderland have only scored at a rate of 1 goal per game on the road this season, conceding at a rate of 1.4 per game. They have taken only two wins away from home in the league this season, one of them being their last away game at Southampton. If they tighten up like they can do, they could at least get a draw out of this if they can close down Luis Suarez. It will probably be worth taking a Luis Suarez First Goalscorer bet for a price of 3/1 at online bookmaker Bet365 for a good shout.
Form
Liverpool WWLWLW, Sunderland LWLWWL
Stat Attack
The Black Cats have only earned one point from losing positions this season
Sunderland have taken the second most clean sheets in the EPL in 2012
Liverpool have only won two of their last seven Premier League games against Sunderland
All four of the last meetings have gone under 2.5 goals per game
Only Man United have won more games in the last six than Liverpool have
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The Reds have the potential to take a good three points here, but the Black Cats are one of those sides who can frustrate. It could be worth taking coverage with Bet365’s 0-0 Bore Draw Insurance. If the games ends goalless, then the online bookie will refund all losing Correct Score, Scorecast and Half Time/Full Time bets placed on the game. Online bookmaker Bet365 offers up to a free £200 bet for new customers as they will the match the value of your initial deposit as a welcome bonus.
