Phil Smith reacts to Sunderland's comeback win over Bournemouth
Sunderland are back in Premier League action against Liverpool on Wednesday night
Sunderland are reverting to a back five at Anfield, with Régis Le Bris making two changes to the starting XI that beat Bournemouth 3-2 on Saturday.
The formation switch sees Trai Hume get a recall to the starting XI, with the Northern Ireland international set to play on the right of a back five. Nordi Mukiele will move infield to the right of the three central defenders. Hume returns in place of Bertrand Traore, who is named on the bench. Chemsdine Talbi looks set to switch over to the right wing as a result, with Enzo Le Fée moving back to the left flank.
Sunderland’s move to a back five also has implications for the bench - with Luke O’Nien returning in place of Chris Rigg to add further defensive cover.
Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Talbi, Xhaka, Sadiki, Le Fée; Brobbey
Subs: Patterson, O’Nien, Geertruida, Traore, Isidor, Mayenda, Adingra, Mundle, Neil
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has opted not to bring Mo Salah back into the starting XI, but former Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak starts after his goal at the weekend.
What Régis Le Bris said about Brian Brobbey in his pre-match press conference
Speaking ahead of the game, Le Bris praised Brobbey’s impact in recent weeks. Wilson Isifor looks set for a big role as an impact substitute, with Brobbey not likely to play 90 minutes.
“It's absolutely obvious on the pitch during those games and during the week as well that he is improving a lot,” Le Bris said.
“Physically, his ability to to repeat sprints at high level, high intensity, and to stay composed with the ball. It's great news for us because if we can have two strikers at that level.”
He continued: “I think at the beginning of the season it wasn't so difficult [to leave Brobbey out of the first XI] because we knew that he was more effective for a short period of time. Now I think he might be ready for 60, 65 minutes. So we have this option now, but I think it wasn't the case before.”
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