LFC v Sunderland Preview

Liverpool welcome newly promoted Sunderland to Anfield for the first home Premiership fixture of the season.

Mick McCarthy's side suffered disappointment in their first game as they went down 3-1 at home to a Danny Murphy inspired Charlton Athletic.

On loan Liverpool midfielder Anthony Le Tallec didn't feature against Charlton and was an unused substitute. Le Tallec won't figure at Anfield on Saturday as Premier League rules prevent him playing against his registered team.

Manager Mick McCarthy was dealt a bitter blow when it was confirmed that full-back Stephen Wright would be out of action for three months after suffering medial knee ligament damage in training.

Sunderland have suffered another injury blow with striker Kevin Kyle ruled out until the New Year after a second hip operation.

Wright misses out on a first return to Anfield since a £3million move three years ago and with left-back George McCartney just returning to full-time training, McCarthy will hand a Premiership debut to Nyron Nosworthy.

One of 10 newcomers to the squad, 24-year-old Nosworthy was signed on a free transfer from Gillingham and made his 200th career appearance as a substitute in last week's home defeat by Charlton.

"Stephen Wright will be a huge loss to us," said McCarthy. "His personality as well as his character around the place will be missed.

"He puts everything into his game and while it's disappointing for us, it's more disappointing for him after all the hard work he put in last season to get us into the Premiership."

Defender George McCartney and goalkeeper Ben Alnwick have resumed full-time training while utility defender Danny Collins is also making good progress.

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is expected to field an unchanged side for the visit of the Black Cats.

Benitez still has long term injuries to Djimi Traore, Harry Kewell and Peter Crouch, and although Florent Sinama-Pongolle made his comeback from a knee problem in the reserves this week, it is unlikely he will be considered for first team action yet.

Jamie Carragher, who needed an injection in his mouth because of an infected tooth before he could play for England in midweek, is expected to play.

The last time Sunderland were at Anfield they were in turmoil and relegation was stirring them in the face. That was in November 2002 and Howard Wilkinson was in charge of the team. Liverpool had so many chances but no matter how many they created they just couldn't put the ball into the back of the net. Sunderland goalkeeper Jurgen Macho had the game of his life.


Prediction

Liverpool 3 - Sunderland 1


Teams:

Liverpool: (from) Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Whitbread, Warnock, Luis Garcia, Cisse, Sissoko, Gerrard, Hamann, Zenden, Alonso, Morientes, Baros, Carson, Riise, Potter.

Sunderland: (from) Davis, Nosworthy, Arca, Breen, Caldwell, Whitehead, Robinson, Welsh, Lawrence, Miller, Gray, Stead, Brown, Elliott, J Murphy, Piper.