Fan Focus: What can Sunderland expect from Liverpool?

It seems crazy to suggest after winning the title last season, but with one win in eight, is pressure really starting to mount on Arne Slot again?

It’s a bit of an uncomfortable conversation. Slot done a brilliant job to win the league last season, especially taking over from Jurgen Klopp. He’s also had to deal with devastating circumstances that you just can never prepare for and he navigated that extremely well. However, strictly talking football, it’s nowhere near good enough. 24 points from the last 20 league games is a dreadful return. His saving grace has been the form in Europe, but one league win in 2026 is impossible to defend. Xabi Alonso’s departure from Real Madrid hasn’t helped the situation and now with Man United and Chelsea finding form, hopes of Champions League football are fading.

After being so dominant last season, what would you say are the key factors behind Liverpool’s drop in form?

Last season we were truly brilliant and were comfortably the best team in the league. This year, it feels like the entire league has leaned towards a more direct and physical style of play and we have gone the complete other direction. We’re soft and weak as a squad and one of the easiest teams to play through in the entire league. Age has finally caught up with Mo Salah, which is sad to see but was bound to happen eventually. Perhaps our struggles has really reinforced just how brilliant he was last season.

One of Liverpool’s key troubles is on the road, with just two away wins since mid-September – what issues are you facing away from Anfield?

We can’t deal with the pace and physicality of a lot of teams. Set pieces have been a massive issue with our set-piece coach recently being sacked. Should teams allow us the ball, we’re relying on a moment of magic from Wirtz or Ekitike. If they’re susceptible on the break, we don’t have the pace or directness to punish sides.

With Dominik Szoboszlai suspended and Liverpool failing to sign Lutsharel Geertruida, who do you expect to deputise at right-back?

Believe it or not we do have a natural right-back still available in Calvin Ramsay, but Slot has been quite blunt in his dismissal of him. A return for Joe Gomez would be timely, but he was absent from the squad on Sunday so remains a doubt.

Curtis Jones is the likeliest option to fill in and has had a few good games at right-back in the past. However, he seems to suit that role in games that we control and I can’t imagine that being the case on Wednesday. He’s a really talented footballer, perhaps our most underrated player, but hasn’t been trusted enough this season. Wataru Endo is another option, but I struggle to see Slot opting for that.

Liverpool spent over £400m on Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak. Who has impressed you most and who has been underwhelming?

In terms of the new signings, I’m still positive on all of them. Milos Kerkez had a tough start but has really improved in the past month or so.

Ekitike and Wirtz are two very special players. Ekitike hit the ground running and is such a fun player to watch. 15 goals and 4 assists already is an incredible return.

The performances have always been there with Wirtz, but the goal involvements are now starting to really click. With a £116m price tag, it’s almost impossible to forget that, but he’s immensely talented and works harder than you’d perhaps expect.

Frimpong has had injury struggles but has looked good in most of his games, whilst Mamardashvili won’t really be properly judged until he takes over for Alisson Becker.

In terms of being underwhelmed, you would have to say Alexander Isak. Context of course matters and it took him a while to get anywhere near being fully fit. However, £125m is a massive amount of money and it remains to be seen how he will recover from this serious injury. I’d say he has enough credit in the bank to not be too worried over how good he will become for Liverpool.

If you were Regis Le Bris, how would you expose Liverpool’s weaknesses?

If I were Le Bris, the right-back situation is a glaring weakness. I’ve been hugely impressed with the likes of Chemsdine Talbi and I’ve heard great things about Nilson Angulo. Get one of those at the right-back.

Brian Brobbey against Virgil van Dijk and Ibou Konate will be some battle and perhaps the difference maker could be getting someone like Enzo Le Fee right up there with him. Liverpool struggle with second balls and he has the talent to punish that.

Are any players missing, and who do you think will start?

Slot doesn’t have a tone of options to change really. Alisson will stay in goal and VVD and Konate are our only centre/back options at the moment. Kerkez will go again at left-back and then he has a big decision to make at right-back, which I think it’ll be Curtis Jones.

Gravenberch and Mac Allister will form the double pivot and try an provide a foundation for Wirtz. If Xhaka is still sidelined, I think Liverpool’s biggest chance of getting a result is exposing that space and getting Wirtz and Ekitike linking up.

Salah and Gakpo are the only real options on both wings, frustratingly.

Sunderland are currently unbeaten at the Stadium of Light – what is your prediction for the final score?

My prediction is Sunderland 1-1 Liverpool. I rate this Sunderland side so highly and I think they’re everything that Arne Slot hates at the moment. Immense physicality, a really strong defence and big quality.

A defeat would be a massive blow and could see us fall seven points behind Chelsea in fifth.

A night match at the Stadium of Light, this will be one of the toughest games of the season.