Liverpool welcome Sunderland to Anfield this weekend in search of their third win in a row after seemingly overcoming a bad run of form. Martin Skrtel put in an impressive performance against Leicester last time out and is set to start again against Sunderland this Saturday. Skrtel has made 138 clearances this season, the third most in the division, as well as 20 interceptions and 14 blocks, according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Jordan Henderson has proven to be a firm fixture in the Liverpool midfield this season, and the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows good reason why. Henderson has made 38 tackles in the campaign so far, the 13th most in the league, as well as making 344 passes in the opposition half, more than anyone else in the Liverpool squad.
Liverpool’s main outlet, Raheem Sterling, equally has impressive statistics. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows Sterling to be the sixth most successful dribbler in the Premier League with 39 successful dribbles. Sterling is also statistically the fourth fastest player, having been recorded running at 21.8mph (35.0 km/h). Sterling is 37/20 to score any time with 888sport.
Sunderland have had mixed fortunes of late, having held Chelsea to a draw last Saturday, but falling to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City midweek.
Lee Cattermole received the man of the match award last weekend against Chelsea and was singled out by Gus Poyet as someone who should be playing for England. The tenacious midfielder made has made 34 interceptions this season, the twelfth most in the Premier League according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
Cattermole has also made 37 tackles this season, the most in the Sunderland squad. He is, however, one of three Sunderland players who is in the top 20 for successful tackles, alongside Sebastion Larsson (36) and Patrick Van Aanholt (34), showing that they have plenty of players willing to get stuck in.
Further up the pitch, Connor Wickham is standing out for different reasons. Wickham has recorded the fastest sprint speed of anyone in the Sunderland squad, clocking a speed of 21.2mph (34.1 km/h), according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Wickham is 17/5 to score any time with 888sport.
Liverpool vs Sunderland Match Facts:
- Liverpool are aiming to win three Premier League matches in a row for the first time this season.
- The Reds have kept just three clean sheets this season.
- Their current tally of 20 points after 14 games is seven fewer than they had at this stage last season.
- Sunderland are without a win in their last four league games – and have only won one of the last seven.
- Two of their three wins this season in all competitions have come away from home.
- Lee Cattermole has been booked in five of his last six Premier League appearances.
Facts compiled from BBC.
Liverpool: Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno; Allen, Can, Henderson; Coutinho; Lallana, Borini
Sunderland: Pantilimon; Vergini, O’Shea, Brown, Reveillere; Cattermole, Rodwell, Larsson; WIckham, Alvarez, Fletcher
Liverpool vs Sunderland Prediction:
A 2-1 win for the home side.
Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars with at http://fantasy.premierleague.com/ or with FIFA Ultimate team.