Sunderland are at the bottom of the log and are yet to record a win. They have since fired their manager Paolo Di Canio and will have their youth coach Kevin Ball in charge of the team. They should be ripe for the picking…but then again…so were Manchester United on Wednesday night.
The Reds travel to the Stadium of Light on Sunday and we need to stop the rot as soon as possible. Not only that, but we need to make a statement with a comprehensive victory. Sunderland will be without Fletcher and Borini. They have limited attacking options. With no manager, a depleted team and the remaining members of the squad apparently unable to communicate with each other, Liverpool should collect all three points. Should, being the optimum word. We should have beaten Southampton as well, and we all know what happened there.
So how do we beat them?
First things first. We need to do exactly what I tell my 8 year old to do. Concentrate on what we are doing, in particularly from dead ball situations. We conceded two goals from two corners, and should have conceded a third from a penalty in our first match from poor defending from a free kick. This is unacceptable. Our defenders cannot afford to concentrate for only 89 minutes of a match, because it takes only one minute to score. They need to be on top of their game from start to finish. I must say though that I am extremely impressed with Toure and Mignolet. Both have been world class in my opinion. Sakho also looks to be coming good and I am extremely happy about that. Depending on Agger’s fitness, I believe the starting back four should be Sakho and Skrtel in the middle, with Enrique and Toure at fullback.
I would like to see a change in formation going forward. I would like to see Henderson given a break with Gerrard and Lucas sitting in the centre of midfield. I would like to see an attacking front four with Sturridge, Suarez, Aspas and Sterling. Sterling has looked impressive during his cameos and I would like to see more of him. Again, based on how both players play, I believe Aspas and Suarez will link up well together. I would like to see Aspas playing in the Coutinho role.
It is imperative that we leave this match with 3 points and more than 1 goal. And with Sunderland currently in the process of imploding, this is the ideal match for us to get back to winning ways.
Follow Kurt on Twitter @kurtellis2
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