Liverpool v Sunderland: Live matchday blog
Liverpool return to action this Saturday with an Anfield clash against Sunderland.
The Reds will aim to bounce back to winning ways following the goalless draw with Southampton last time out, while the Black Cats will arrive in L4 buoyed by successive victories in the Premier League.
Key points
- Origi replaces injured Coutinho after 34 minutes.
- Belgian opens the scoring late in second half
- Milner penalty seals the points for the Reds
Klopp: "[We learned] that we can beat even the most defensive team I have faced. That's nice to know, actually."
Klopp confirms Daniel Sturridge has a "tight calf" and didn't train the last two days.
Klopp on Coutinho: "We have to wait for the scan, what we know in this moment is that it's something with the ankle.
"We all have to wait. He had pain, but pain gets better! When I saw him at half-time he said the pain was much better."
Klopp: "With the quality we have and the skills the players show, we force teams to defend.
"That means you cannot come through all the time, that's how it is. We have to learn how to handle situations like this."
Klopp is here for his post-match press conference - updates to follow.
Moyes: "I like it when it's excitable on the touchline, especially coming here. Some nice people behind me!"
View from the opposition
David Moyes begins his press conference by describing Liverpool as "the best attacking team around".
High praise indeed!
How it happened
Relive that satisfying win by taking a look at the match in numbers with our Opta widgets below.
Is there a stat for 'nails bitten'?
Full Time
Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland
It wasn't pretty, and the Reds were made to work for their points, but what an incredible effort to get over the line.
Jürgen Klopp's team prove their credentials once more with a different kind of victory.
Substitution
A proud moment for Ben Woodburn now as he makes his Premier League debut, replacing Gini Wijnaldum.
Goal
Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland (Milner pen)
The vice-captain sends Pickford the wrong way and the Reds have the points wrapped up. Fantastic.
Penalty
Penalty to Liverpool!
Sunderland push for an equaliser but when the Reds win it back they have Sadio Mane's pace to exploit the gaps.
The No.19 does that perfectly, chargings past Denayer into the box and drawing a foul from Ndong.
Substitution
A change for the Reds. Lucas Leiva replaces fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino, who has put in a shift today.
Emre Can gets the ball on the break and tries to emulate Origi with a stepover and shot but Van Aanholt's foot deflects the ball to safety.
Tempers fraying on the touchline after Firmino doesn't get awarded a foul after turning his man.
It's been a feisty game to tell the truth.
Substitution
A double sub for Sunderland as Januzaj and Gooch replace Pienaar and Watmore.
David Moyes throwing the kitchen sink at the Reds now.
Goal
Liverpool 1-0 Sunderland (Origi)
The breakthrough!
Origi works space on the left-hand side of the box with a series of stepovers and curls one into the far corner brilliant. What. A. Goal.
Mane earns a foul at the edge of the Sunderland penalty area but Henderson's attempt flies over the bar.
Still plenty of time for a goal - come on you Reds!
Yellow Card
Lovren produces a cynical foul of his own on the breaking Van Aanholt and picks up a booking.
Free-kick in a dangerous area for Sunderland now.
Inches away!
A blocked ball lands to Can at the edge of the area and he rifles an effort just wide of the post. Incredible atmosphere here.
Yellow Card
John O'Shea gets one as well for a cynical foul on Divock Origi.
Yellow Card
Lamine Kone kicks the ball away after a foul is awarded and he goes straight in the book.
Match shot
Firmino the latest to go close with a left-footed effort - Pickford gets down again to keep it out.
Brilliant from Liverpool but the goal still won't come.
Emre flicks the ball up at the edge of the box before dinking it over to Wijnaldum, but the Dutchman's volley trickles wide.
A Wijnaldum poke in behind finds Clyne in the box but he is ushered out of play by O'Shea.
Liverpool just have to keep probing...
Kick-Off
Sunderland resume proceedings - a big half for the Reds as they attack the Kop.
Widgets
See how the teams stacked up in the first half with our Opta tool below!
BETVICTOR says...
Here are your half-time odds from our friends at BETVICTOR.
Liverpool 4/11
Draw 3/1
Sunderland 12/1
Half Time
Liverpool 0-0 Sunderland
The Reds with most of the ball and the best of the chances but its goalless at the break here.
The visitors have a game plan and they are sticking to it - it's up to Jürgen Klopp's team to break them down.
The ball falls to Sadio Mane in the box but, after jinking into space, he can't beat Pickford.
The Sunderland goalkeeper is becoming a real thorn in the Reds' side this afternoon.
Another header, this time from Emre Can, but he too doesn't threaten the goal.
It's attack v defence at Anfield but Sunderland are holding firm.
Dejan Lovren meets Jordan Henderson's free-kick delivery with a diving header at the back post but he can only divert the ball wide.
Unlucky!
Substitution
Coutinho can't continue and leaves the field on a stretcher - a worrying sight for Jürgen Klopp.
Divock Origi replaces the Brazilian.
Coutinho down in the Sunderland box receiving treatment after finding himself on the wrong end of a heavy challenge. Hopefully it's nothing serious.
Liverpool ramping up the pressure now as Wijnaldum volleys one wide of goal after a decent passage of play.
Come on, lads!
Liverpool repel a Sunderland corner but a hopeful ball back into the box releases Pienaar one on one with Karius.
The German 'keeper spreads himself to repel the former Everton man's poked effort, however, surrendering a corner that is then cleared.
Patient build-up from the Reds results in Coutinho feeding Wijnaldum in the box, but the Dutchman's effort on the turn is kept out by Pickford.
Liverpool in control but nothing to show for it yet.
Firmino receives the ball at the edge of the box and twists and turns before unleashing a left-footed effort.
It's a tame one, though, and Pickford collects with ease.
A strong start from the Reds as they probe Sunderland and win a corner - though it ultimately amounts to nothing.
The crowd take the opportunity to serenade Steven Gerrard, who is in attendance at Anfield today.
Kick-Off
Gini Wijnaldum gets the game under way, with Liverpool attacking the Anfield Road end first half.
Come on you Reds!
Almost there
The players head back into the dressing room after completing a warm-up that no doubt proved entirely necessary in today's Arctic conditions.
Ten minutes until kick-off here at Anfield
Reds' rivals win
The early kick-off comes to an end and it's a 2-1 win for Manchester City at Burnley.
That result moves Liverpool down into third in the Premier League but they have the chance to claim top spot - temporarily, at least - with a victory today.
Behind closed doors...
Take a glimpse inside the Liverpool dressing room at Anfield ahead of kick-off.
A familiar line-up
The Reds unchanged for today's meeting with the Mackems.
Daniel Sturridge misses out with tight calf, while Academy prospect Ben Woodburn makes the bench.
Team news
Liverpool: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Milner, Henderson, Can, Wijnaldum, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Moreno, Origi, Klavan, Lucas, Ejaria, Woodburn.
This is Anfield
And doesn't she look stunning?
Fancy a flutter?
Here are the latest odds for this afternoon's match from Liverpool FC's official betting partner, Bet Victor.
Liverpool 1/5
Draw 7/1
Sunderland 14/1
To place a bet with Bet Victor, click here.
Jürgen on Joel
Joel Matip has made the transition from the Bundesliga to the Premier League look easy with a series if classy displays for the Reds this season.
And the Cameroon international's form has come as no surprise whatsoever to his manager.
Read the boss' thoughts on his No.32 here
We sat down with Loris Karius earlier this week, and the Liverpool stopper has spoken fondly of his relationship with the Reds' goalkeeping coach John Achterberg.
"He always thinks it through very well so I'm happy I can work with him," said the German.
Read more from our chat with Karius here
Weather
It's the one you've all been waiting for...
Our first weather update of the day!
It's cold in Liverpool. Very, very cold. It's currently just one degree above freezing, with that expected to rise to a balmy two degrees by kick-off.
So if you're coming to Anfield later today, wrap up warm. Hat, gloves, scarf, thermals are all required!
Liverpool may have slipped off top spot in the Premier League last weekend, but that fact is of little concern to Gini Wijnaldum at this stage of the campaign.
"I prefer to stand at the number one spot at the end of the season than now. It's early," says the Reds' No.5.
Read more from Gini here
Speaking of today's matchday programme...
Here's a look at the front cover, which features Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho
The skipper's view
Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson has used his notes to praise two of his fellow midfielders: Emre Can and Georginio Wijnaldum.
"Emre’s a cracking lad with a brilliant attitude," writes the captain.
"Everyone thinks the world of Gini and it’s great to see he has settled so quickly and already feels right at home in Liverpool."
To read more from Henderson, click here.
The boss' programme notes
In his notes for today's matchday programme, Jürgen Klopp has emphasised the fact that every member of Liverpool's squad will be needed if the Reds are to enjoy a successful season.
The boss writes in 'This is Anfield': "From my previous experiences it is never just a 'team' that achieves something, if you are fortunate enough to be part of a special moment. It is always the 'squad'."
To read more from the manager's programme notes, click here.
Why not start your day by comparing and contrasting the two teams and their players with the Opta widgets embedded below?
Good morning and welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog.
The Reds host Sunderland this afternoon (3pm GMT kick-off), and we'll bring you all the best build-up, match action and reaction from Anfield.
