Liverpool’s lethal SAS will ensure Sunderland remain in relegation mire

Sunderland have managed just one win in eight against 5/2 Premier League outright chances Liverpool, and last tasted victory at Anfield way back in 1983. It comes as no surprise, then, that Coral make Brendan Rodgers’ Reds odds-on favourites for another three points towards their title tilt at 2/11.

Hope for the Black Cats is so slim that punters can get a massive 16/1 price on them upsetting the Merseyside outfit on their own patch. A draw is 13/2. Gus Poyet’s last Premier League win came in the Tyne-Wear derby on February 1st, and all signs point to that wait going on.

This is one of two games in hand Sunderland (10/11 for the drop) have over relegation rivals Cardiff City and Fulham, but it will yield nothing towards bolstering their survival bid because of a rampant attacking force in Liverpool ranks.

In their last six top-flight outings, Rodgers’ Reds have scored 24 goals – an average of four per game. Punters must thus see odds of 7/4 on the Liverpool total being over 3.5 as a worthy investment then.

Front two Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge have netted 10 of those and, ominously for the Black Cats, enjoy being on target against this upcoming opposition. Uruguay hotshot Suarez has seven Premier League goals in six meetings with Sunderland. Back him to follow up his hat-trick against Cardiff by scoring two or more at 7/4.

Alternatively, Sturridge has netted in his last two appearances against the Black Cats. Odds of 5/2 say the England striker will get the first goal. Rodgers has no new injury concerns coming into this encounter, so must decide whether to continue rotating Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling in behind the SAS.

Martin Skrtel is a tempting outside bet for punters after two recent braces. A 66/1 price is far from ridiculous when you consider Sunderland have conceded 44 goals this term, and the Slovakian’s proficiency from set pieces.

Putting together any sort of case for Poyet and company is exceedingly difficult, not least because forward Fabio Borini is ineligible against his parent club. Steven Fletcher remains sidelined by an ankle problem and left back Marcos Alonso is banned.

Connor Wickham was recalled from a loan spell at Leeds United, however, but flops Ignacio Scocco or Jozy Altidore are more likely to start. If punters are compelled, then back either at 11/2 for goals anytime.