Date: 02/01/13
Venue: Anfield
Kick-Off: 19:45
LIVERPOOL will play their first game of 2013 without defender Jose Enrique, who injured his hamstring during Sunday’s 3-0 win at QPR.
Stewart Downing is likely to fill in for Enrique at left-back, while Lucas will hope to be recalled to the starting XI after being rested at the weekend.
Lucas came on against QPR in the 64th minute, replacing Jordan Henderson, who was able to play at Loftus Road despite being hit with the same virus that saw Brendan Rodgers, Brad Jones and Glen Driscoll sent home. Liverpool’s medical team have done everything in their power to prevent the virus from spreading and the Reds are optimistic that no more players or staff will be affected by the bug.
Rodgers is likely to return to the dugout for tonight’s game at home to Sunderland, but if Jones has not recovered from the virus, young keeper Peter Gulacsi will find himself on the bench once again. Gulacsi signed for Liverpool in 2007 but has yet to make a first-team appearance for the club.
Sunderland will travel to Anfield without defender John O’Shea, who picked up a hamstring injury against Spurs on Saturday. After being ineligible to face his parent club at the weekend, on-loan Danny Rose is expected to return to the side.
If Liverpool win on Wednesday, it will only be the second time this season that the Reds have managed back-to-back wins in the Premier League. Three points would also see Liverpool move up to eighth in the table.
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Sunderland will be confident of getting something from the game, having taken a point from each of their last two visits to Anfield. The Black Cats have only lost one of their last five matches against Liverpool, but they have not beaten the Reds at Anfield in 11 Premier League meetings.
Following their 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham on Saturday, Sunderland are 14th with 22 points – six fewer than Liverpool. After a poor start which saw them win just two of their first 15 league games, the Black Cats have won three of their last five including a win over Manchester City.
Summer signing Steven Fletcher has scored eight league goals this campaign, including one against Liverpool when the sides met in September.
In his pre-Sunderland programme notes, skipper Steven Gerrard said there is plenty for Liverpool to be positive about going into the New Year. One thing is for certain – three points would be the perfect way for the Reds to start 2013.
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Right now owners FSG and CEO are rookies in the EPL. That,i can live with!! But for them to hire a rookie manager who goes on to make rookie signings,while letting experienced players like Aquilani,Kuyt,Bellamy & Rodriguez leave,that i REALLY can’t live with!! Downing is not worth the cash Daglish used,but at least Kenny would bring in Maxi or Bellamy from the bench to clean up the mess when his bad signings had messed up!!! Now we have no experience in the whole LFC organisation.. Stevie is better off joining Eto’o in Russia or Drogba in Asia cos he definately aint worth half the 120k we push to his account every week… Hopefully Rafa can prove himself to FSG over the 7month spell at the Chavs….
While I agree in BR being very inexperienced and very poor signings so far but with Maxi, Bellamy and Kyut all wanted to finish there careers in their home countries and respective clubs, he tried to convince them to stay but they wanted out.
4-2-3-1 …. With coates partnering lucas in the mid.. Adam johnson needs to be freezed
Aim for 3 points nothing less would do. Against Sunderland at home every PL club looks for 3 points. To be honest, I’ve written this whole season off. Possibly the entire BR reign . Spurs look for damiao and other….you know foreign players… We spend 12 million on sturridge . I thought things were going to change after 120 million spent by Kenny. We are the only club after a player who wants away from Chelsea, why pay the asking price???
BR is an inexperienced manager who is out of depth at this level. Perhaps one day he will look at this job as the one that came too soon. See AVB at Chelsea and how he failed. Despite the cv boasting league wins and Europa.
YNWA
Even with our average Joe manager . A home win should be a cert
Lets get the new year off to a positive note,a great win 2nite & agood display from Raheem & Luis ,Stevie .lets welcome Danny boy to liverpool & wish him all the best,lets hope we get rid of cole.
Great win. Best 90 min performance of the year.
Other than the obvious individual performances it was great to see Henderson put in another good shift. Allens 30 minute cameo was the best he’s played so far. Was first class in his attacking intent and executed extremely well. I know that will upset most in here who r he’ll bent on seeing br and Allen fail!