Statistical Preview: Liverpool Travel To Bottom Of The League Sunderland

- It’s been a tumultuous week for Sunderland, with the removal of Paulo Di Canio as manager. Whereas, Liverpool will be hoping that the introduction of another enigmatic character will provide them will a new lease of life.

- Luis Suarez was welcomed back with open arms by the Liverpool faithful in their match against Manchester United this week, but it could be argued that Liverpool haven’t missed last season’s top goalscorer too much. Daniel Sturridge leads the goalscoring charts, and his confidence in front of goal is also demonstrated through him having the second most shots on goal in the league. You can find Sturridge at 33/10 with 888sport.com to score the first goal of the match on Sunday.

- Suarez’s chance of an immediate return to the first team will be aided by the injury to Phillipe Coutinho. Coutinho has certainly been impressive this campaign, completing a pass in the opposition half every 3 minutes.

- Critics raised their eyebrows when Pepe Reina left Liverpool for Napoli on loan, but Simon Mignolet has replaced the Liverpool stalwart with consummate ease. He has made 25 saves this campaign, which is more than any other keeper in the league.

- 35s Leiva’s tackling has been impressive this season, and this was the case again against Southampton. He made 6 tackles, more than any other Liverpool player.

- Sunderland’s influx of players has probably been a factor in their disappointing start to the current campaign, but in the passing department, academy graduate Jack Colback has impressed. He has completed 90 passes in the opposition half this season, which is more than any other Sunderland player according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.

- However, his number of attacking contributions (based on passes, crosses, dribbles, passes and shots) is overshadowed by former England winger Adam Johnson. Johnson is 5/1 with 888sport.com to score at any time against Liverpool.

- Johnson’s threat is particularly evident in the number of crosses that he has swung in. He has swung in the second most crosses in the league with 9.

- Despite only featuring in four games this season, the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index shows how adept Modibo Diakite has been at clearing the ball. He has cleared the ball 32 times this season, more than anyone else in the Sunderland team.