Liverpool are set to travel to the Stadium of Light with several players unavailable for Wednesday night’s Premier League clash
Liverpool look set to arrive at the Stadium of Light with a depleted squad when they face Sunderland in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Arne Slot has confirmed a number of injury and availability concerns ahead of the midweek fixture, with the league table providing added context. Just three points separate the two sides after 25 games, with Sunderland ninth on 36 points and Liverpool sixth on 39, but the visitors’ options appear set to be stretched.
Liverpool are expected to travel to Wearside without several senior players. Jeremie Frimpong remains sidelined with a groin injury and is not expected to return for at least another couple of weeks, while Conor Bradley has been ruled out for the remainder of the season as he continues his recovery from a serious knee problem. Stefan Bajčetić is also unavailable, with the midfielder still working his way back after hamstring surgery and a series of setbacks that have kept him out for almost nine months.
Defensive options could also be limited. Joe Gomez is a major doubt after Slot admitted he does not expect the versatile defender to be fit in time for the trip north, while centre-back Giovanni Leoni remains sidelined following an ACL rupture earlier in the campaign.
Further forward, Liverpool will again be without Alexander Isak as he continues his recovery from a broken leg. Jayden Danns also remains unavailable, with the forward still sidelined by a hamstring injury after a season disrupted by fitness problems.
Dominik Szoboszlai will also miss the trip to Wearside after being shown a red card against Manchester City. The Hungary international was dismissed for a professional foul and is therefore suspended for one match, ruling him out of Wednesday night’s meeting with Sunderland. Liverpool boss Slot said he understoood the referee had followed the rules in making his decision, but insisted Marc Guehi should have been sent off earlier in the half.
"I can live with the fact, although I don't like it, that the referee follows the rulebook and Dominik makes a foul on Haaland in that last situation, which is a clear shirt-pull and he was through to goal so he would have scored," Slot said.
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"So that's a red card. And I think the Sunderland manager is really happy that he gives the red card. So that's the rulebook and you follow the rulebook. And if you follow the rulebook and you have a clear shirt-pull from [Marc] Guehi on Mo Salah, who for eight years is scoring that ball every single time - 100 out of 100 times he scores that goal, a bit exaggerated - and that is not a red card, then there is more of my frustration.
"But I can live with the red card for Dom. If you like football you say, 'Ah, leave it as it is, it's a goal, it's good for them, it's good for everyone.' But if you are the Sunderland manager you prefer to see a red card. That's the rule and follow the rules is all we ask."
With both sides having played the same number of matches and the gap in the table remaining narrow, Sunderland will be looking to test a Liverpool side hit by injuries when the two meet under the lights on Wednesday night.
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