Liverpool Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Sunderland

Everything you need to know ahead of the Premier League clash at Anfield on Saturday

Liverpool will line up against Sunderland at Anfield determined to extend their unbeaten streak to 14 games and enhance the pressure on their rivals at the top end of the Premier League.

The encounter pits the side second in the standings against the one second from bottom and, while the visitors have won two on the spin, David Moyes will harbour concerns over his side’s shaky defence combating the league’s most formidable attack.

The Reds were held to a goalless draw last weekend – only the third time they’ve been stopped from affecting the scoreline, and the opposition could find themselves on the end of an onslaught.

The last five games at Anfield across all competitions has produced 15 goals for the home team. Moyes has never won at the ground in 13 attempts and over the past 43 league meetings against the Black Cats on L4 – stretching back to 1936 – Liverpool have lost just twice – both by a 1-0 scoreline.

Adam Lallana is the only injury concern for the Reds, with the groin issue he suffered on international duty with England expected to keep him out again this weekend.

Joe Gomez completed 90 minutes for the first time since damaging his anterior cruciate ligament last October as the club’s Under-23 side defeated Burnley 4-0, but Liverpool will not rush his recovery.

The hosts have no suspension concerns, but Papy Djilobodji will be missing for Sunderland following his late sending off against Hull, while Steven Pienaar is available after a one-match ban.

This could be Klopp’s shot at fielding an unchanged line-up in the league for the first time since his second game in charge.

Sunderland followed up a 2-1 win at Bournemouth with a 3-0 hammering of Hull after having failed to take maximum points in any of their first 10 league games of the season.

In contrast to their home form, which has seen Arsenal smash four past them, with Everton and Crystal Palace getting three each at the Stadium of Light, they have been tighter on their travels – conceding more than once only at Stoke.

Their plan will be to squeeze Liverpool of space and look to frustrate them with a deep defensive line, with the hope that Victor Anichebe can score in three successive Premier League fixtures for the first time, or that Jermain Defoe will prove typically influential.

• Liverpool have never lost a Premier League match against Sunderland at Anfield

• James Milner has scored five Premier League goals against Sunderland – against no Premier League team has he netted more.

• Jurgen Klopp hasn’t named an unchanged Premier League starting lineup since his second game in charge, going 40 games without keeping the same XI.

• Jermain Defoe has been involved in 21 of Sunderland’s 41 Premier League goals in 2016 so far (51% – 18 goals, 3 assists).

Kick off is at 3pm. The match is not televised in the UK.