It's Sunderland vs Liverpool in the Premier League tonight
It's Sunderland vs Liverpool in the Premier League tonight
Welcome to our live coverage of Sunderland vs Liverpool in the Premier League at the Stadium of Light. Kick-off is 8.15pm.
Reigning champions face a fierce fight to achieve their minimum aim of qualifying for next season's Champions League after a disappointing defence of their title.
But the Reds were given a boost last night when the teams currently occupying fourth and fifth place, Manchester United and Chelsea respectively, dropped points.
It means should Arne Slot's side immediately return to winning ways this evening, following Sunday's sickening late 2-1 home loss to Manchester City, they would move within two points of Chelsea and three points of eternal rivals United.
A big game, then. And it's one that Liverpool head coach will have to play a midfielder at right-back in with stand-in suspendedm and injured and unlikely to be fit enough to start.
So can the Reds become the first team to win in the league at this season's surprise package Sunderland? Paul Gorst and Ian Doyle are at the Stadium of Light to bring you all the build-up to kick-off, including team news when it drops at 7pm, followed an in-game commentary stream and the best post-match reaction and analysis.
Our writers select their Liverpool line-ups
As always, our Liverpool writers have been doing Arne Slot's job for him and picking their preferred line-ups as part of one of the ECHO's pre-match staples.
Endo or Jones at right-back? What about the formation? And a shout for Trey Nyoni to start?
Read what Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle and Mark Jones have had to say .
(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
So who plays at right-back?
Taking away Stefan Bajcetic andJayden Danns, Liverpool currently have five players injured and one suspended.
Not ideal, but hardly catastrophic. The issue is that four of those players are the club's right-backs.
With Dominik Szoboszlai suspended, and Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley injured, and Joe Gomez unlikely to be fit enough to start, even if he makes the squad, it means Arne Slot will have to play another player in that position tonight.
We know it won't be a recognised right back in Calvin Ramsay - .
So it looks like being midfielders Wataru Endo or Curtis Jones unless left-back Andy Robertson switches over to the right.
Good afternoon
And welcome to our live coverage of Liverpool's Premier League match at Sunderland.
It's an important one for the Reds. If not a must-win, then close to.
Let's do this!