Liverpool have the chance to end the last remaining unbeaten home record in the Premier League at Sunderland, but they have goalscoring needs to address.
Liverpool have conceded six goals from the 90th minute in league games this season, costing them eight points.
And they are also slow starters having scored only once in the opening 30 minutes of any league game since September, and none in the last nine.
Their defeat to Man City last Sunday was their second loss in the last 17 in all competitions, but they face a stern test against a Sunderland side who have not lost at home in 12 league outings.
Liverpool’s struggles against newly-promoted teams
On only three occasions in the Premier League have Liverpool failed to win either of the fixtures in a season against Sunderland – in 2000/01, 2002/03 and 2011/12.
Of the five games this season against newly-promoted teams, Liverpool have won one – at Burnley in September (1-0). They have drawn the other four.
Liverpool away record: Lost 1 of the last 8
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong challenges Bournemouth's Adrien Truffert (L) during the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
In all competitions, they have failed to score in only three of their 17 games away from home in all competitions.
They have lost one of the last eight away games in all competitions, coming in the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth last month.
Liverpool’s earliest goal in an away game this season came in the 35th minute of the 3-2 victory at Newcastle back in August, Ryan Gravenberch scoring the goal.
First visit to the Stadium of Light since 2017
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - Monday, January 2, 2017: Liverpool's Sadio Mane scores the first goal against Sunderland during the FA Premier League match at the Stadium of Light. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
They are unbeaten in the last 11 Premier League clashes since a 1-0 loss at the Stadium of Light in March 2012, with Nicklas Bendtner scoring the winner.
Liverpool have suffered only three defeats in the last 32 league visits to Sunderland dating back to August 1958. They have won 19 and drawn 10, but two of those losses have come in the last eight.
The last meeting on Wearside in January 2017 saw Liverpool lead twice through Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane. Jermain Defoe equalised twice from the penalty spot.
Sunderland are the only unbeaten home side in the Premier League
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)
Sunderland are the only top-flight team who are unbeaten at home this season in the league. Only one other in the top-four divisions have yet to lose on home soil – Bromley who lead League Two.
They have failed to score only once in the league at home this season – in a goalless draw with Man City last month.
They are one of only six teams in the top-five European leagues to remain unbeaten at home in the league this season. The others are Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli, Juventus and Barcelona.
They are on an undefeated 12-match home run in the league. It is the longest unbeaten home start to a top-flight campaign for a newly-promoted side since Nottingham Forest in 1977/78, who went the whole season without a home loss on their way to winning the title.
This season’s scorers
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 8, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates with team-mates Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool: Ekitike 15, Szoboszlai 9, Gakpo 7, Salah 6, Wirtz 6, Gravenberch 4, Chiesa 3, Isak 3, Mac Allister 3, Van Dijk 3, Frimpong 2, Konate 2, Kerkez 1, Ngumoha 1,
Robertson 1, own goals 2
Sunderland: Brobbey 5, Isidor 4, Le Fee 4, Talbi 3, Ballard 2, Adingra 1, Alderete 1, Diarra 1, Guiu 1, Mayenda 1, Mukiele 1, Traore 1, Xhaka 1, own goals 3