Sunderland are set to host Liverpool on the hump day of Wednesday, 11th February 2026 at the Stadium of Light. Kicking off at 8:15PM GMT will be followed by a 9:15PM WAT start. The Black Cats who just got promoted are the only Premier League team who still remain unbeaten at home this season and that’s a pretty remarkable feat , sitting pretty in ninth spot with 36 points from 25 games and hoping to pull of an upset against the visitors. Liverpool, who are currently in sixth place with 39 points, were brought low in a disappointing home defeat and could do with a win to keep in the hunt for some of the European spots with Arne Slot at the helm.
Match Summary
Since getting promoted Sunderland have been quite the revelation at home , the Stadium of Light has become a bit of a fortress with just one loss in front of their passionate fans – the only remaining unbeaten home record in the league. Defence has been solid for them and they go up a gear on the counter, with their recent results keeping them pretty comfortably mid-table.
Liverpool have shown flashes of brilliance with Mohamed Salah and the new signing Florian Wirtz, but it’s their defences that have let them down at times and most recently when they lost some valuable points right at the end to leave them four points off the top five teams. I wont bore you with too much detail but the reverse fixture earlier in the season wasnt particularly memorable, though historically their meetings have always seen Liverpool come out on top – though this is actually Sunderland’s first top-flight home game against them for years.
Expect a real dogfight – it will suit Sunderland on set-pieces and with the home crowd right behind them, while Liverpool‘s attacking threats are likely to break through at some point. I think its safe to say that goals are quite likely here as both teams have the kind of attacking threat that will always create chances, despite the inconsistencies of late.
Historically they’ve always had entertaining games when they’ve met but with Sunderland’s home form as good as it is this makes it a tougher ask than you might have expected for the Reds.
Possible Lineups
Sunderland (4-2-3-1): Roefs – Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo – Sadiki, Diarra – Hume, Le Fée, Talbi – Brobbey
The likes of Nilson Angulo who joined them in January are available again now, and Noah Sadiki is also back fit after a recent injury scare. Sunderland dont have any major suspensions to deal with and their side remains pretty settled under Arne Slot.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson – Jones, Konaté, Van Dijk, Kerkez – Gravenberch, Mac Allister – Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo – Ekitiké
Arne Slot does have some injury worries to contend with, particularly when it comes to his defence and midfield rotation, but he wont have to leave out the likes of Mohamed Salah (as key a goal-scorer as they come) and Virgil van Dijk, the rock of the Liverpool back line. Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké bring some much-needed creativity up front.
Prediction
I think Sunderland‘s unbeaten home record and their defensive solidity will give Liverpool a right old headache as they’ve been pretty vulnerable on the road and have had their defensive woes of late too. Mohamed Salah is still a major threat and might just find the way past them, but the home crowd and the Black Cats’ counter attacks give Sunderland a real chance at getting some points on the board – or even a shock win. It could be a real nail-biter with both teams scoring in an open game, but I think Sunderland might just nick that vital result to boost their hopes of staying up.
Final score prediction: Sunderland 2-1 Liverpool
