Virgil van Dijk faces a physical battle as Liverpool travel to the Stadium of Light to play Sunderland, with Regis Le Bris’ side the only team left unbeaten at home in the Premier League.
Liverpool head to the Stadium of Light for a midweek clash, with the Black Cats the only team remaining who are unbeaten at home in the Premier League this season.
That highlights what a difficult assignment this is for Liverpool, as they fight hard for Champions League qualification.
Ahead of the game, we caught up with Graham Falk from WTF Sunderland Podcast (@WTFSunlunPod) to preview an important night for both sides.
How would you rate Sunderland’s season out of 10?
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris after the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Picture date: Saturday November 29, 2025.
Can I say nine? It’s been beyond what I expected and above what I felt we could realistically aim for.
I spoke a lot last year about how promotion would be amazing, but it had also filled me with dread because I wasn’t sure whether the Premier League had changed so much that promoted sides were unable to compete.
Recent history had shown that, but it’s been amazing.
We’re the only side to remain unbeaten at home in the league and we’ve taken points off Arsenal, Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea.
We’re largely already safe – I wish we were better away from home, but I feel like I’m being extremely picky. Oh, and we put those lot up the road back into their box, which is nice.
What has been the key to such an impressive campaign?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, December 3, 2025: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté (R) challenges Sunderland's Brian Brobbey during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Multiple reasons, really. It’s hard to go through all of them, so I’ll try and be as simplistic as I can. The home form and atmosphere at the Stadium of Light have been incredible all season.
I think we knew every home game would be vital to us staying up this year, so we made it raucous from the first match.
The more we succeeded, the better the atmosphere became. That’s been a big factor in our success.
Secondly, it may be extremely basic to say, but we have a tactically astute manager and a recruitment team that has purchased the best players possible.
What’s that famous saying about football being a simple game and idiots?
We’ve brought well, brought an atmosphere and a belief, and have a really cool, calm manager in Regis Le Bris who doesn’t let us get too high or too low.
Which three players have impressed most and who has struggled?
This will not shock you, but Granit Xhaka. Experience, leadership, quality and know-how – he’s got everything.
I think he’s the best midfielder I’ve ever seen at Sunderland in my lifetime. Outside of that, Enzo Le Fee has grown week-on-week.
Some incorrectly felt he struggled in the Championship, without taking into context that he had barely played at Roma, was forced into a different position in the early weeks of his arrival and then got a bad hamstring injury.
He came back just before the play-offs and played a role in almost every goal that got us there.
When he signed a permanent deal in the summer, I was chuffed, and he has got seven goal contributions from the middle, which is a fantastic return.
It’s hard to narrow down a third player. All but two of the new signings have worked out, but I’m going to go for Dan Ballard.
He has made the step up to the Premier League with ease, scored some really important goals from defence and just been a monster at the back.
He’s a modern-day Sunderland legend and I love him with all my heart.
Few have struggled, but two of our summer signings didn’t fully work out, and they’ve left on loan. Simon Adringa was a signing I was really excited about, but it just hasn’t clicked and he’s gone to Monaco on loan.
He seems like a lovely kid, and sometimes things just don’t work out, so I wish him all the luck.
What’s the realistic aim for the season now?
I honestly feel like we are a top-10 side, but we need to improve our away form. We’ve not won on the road since October and only scored six goals away from home.
Get to 40 points, fix the away form, keep up the home performances and why not go for a UEFA Conference League spot?
How do you rate Liverpool’s season and would you keep Arne Slot?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, January 28, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK at Anfield. Liverpool won 6-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
I couldn’t see past you winning the league in the summer, and I thought the signings were excellent at the time, but you’ve been really underwhelming.
The caveat? I was in New York when I woke up to the tragic news of Diogo Jota‘s death, and it really hit me hard.
I was lucky enough to have a three-minute interview with him only months prior, as part of my job when he played for Portugal at Hampden Park.
It was a huge loss to football, both as a player and a man.
When I think of how much that shook me, I dread to think how much that affected your players, his teammates and the dressing room.
It takes a lot to get on a pitch and perform after something so heartbreaking, and I genuinely think it would be inhumane of me to think that doesn’t have an effect.
The players that came in during the summer obviously are a little different, and they’ve all had some sort of criticism for their performances.
Then add in the Mo Salah drama, which will always be divisive in a fanbase because of how much of a Liverpool legend he is.
As for Arne Slot, I’d keep him. He’s a top manager.
He isn’t Jurgen Klopp and will always struggle against that, but if you can put together some good form and start to develop the squad more – you’re seeing an improvement in Florian Wirtz – you can treat this season as transitional and push Arsenal in the years to come.
What are your best and worst memories from this fixture?
My favourite memory is an odd one. I can’t remember the season, but it was a midweek game and we lost 2-0 – Yossi Benayoun and David Ngog scored.
Anyway, I arrived at Anfield, and oddly, was sitting next to the same lad I still sit next to in my season ticket seat at the SOL. He was clearly smashed.
Kenwyne Jones missed a one-on-one and he completely lost his head before basically falling asleep until half-time.
So, anyway, Pepe Reina comes out and claps the crowd, this lad suddenly jolts us and screams: Here man, Reina, your wife’s got athlete’s foot!”
Reina looked completely perplexed as he put his towel down, our entire away end looking at him in unison in bemusement, and him just sitting down and quietly whispering, ‘Well, she does’.
Outstanding!
My worst memory also involves alcohol. As a stupid 24-year-old, I’d gone on a total session the night beforehand and forgot I needed to be up at 9am for Anfield.
We drew 2-2 and Darren Bent bagged a brace. It was back in the day when a pint cost £3, but you couldn’t use a card for anything under £5.
I ended up having seven Kopparbergs and two Sambuca shots. Can you imagine how bad I felt?
My uncle got me at 9am and I was so hungover that I was shivering and vomiting all the way home. It put me off Sambuca for life.
Of course, the beach ball stands out. It was scored at my end and I remember thinking it had just been deflected.
Twitter was in its early days and word quickly got around that it was a beach ball from the away end. Very funny. For us, anyway.
Where will the key battles take place on Wednesday?
I’m really interested to see Virgil van Dijk and Brian Brobbey. They are two big, physical athletes who will have a proper go at each other.
Finally, what’s your prediction?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 31, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot on the bench before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
You’ve got to be positive, haven’t you?
I fancy us to get a point. I will say 1-1 and Trai Hume to score.