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Rafael Benítez’s belief in the fallibility of his rivals was again vindicated when Manchester City and Aston Villa dropped points on Wednesday, but whether Liverpool can capitalise is another matter. Confidence has returned to Sunderland, who are unbeaten in four games but have not won away in the league since the opening day of the season. Liverpool have nothing to gain through caution at Anfield, and a repeat of the attitude and tactics that produced seven goals in two home matches before defeat at Old Trafford is a prerequisite if Champions League qualification is to remain in reach. Andy Hunter

Venue Anfield, Sunday 4pm (Sky Sports 1) Tickets Sold out Last season Liverpool 2 Sunderland 0 Referee P Dowd

This season’s matches 24 Y73, R4, 3.21 cards per game

Odds Liverpool 1-3 Sunderland 11-1 Draw 15-4

Liverpool

Subs from Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Kelly, Degen, Darby, Ayala, Lucas, Rodríguez, El Zhar, Ngog, Babel, Pacheco

Doubtful None

Injured Skrtel (foot, 11 Apr), Aurélio (thigh, 11 Apr)

Suspended None

Form guide LWLWDL

Disciplinary record Y52 R5

Leading scorer Torres 16

Sunderland

Subs from Fulop, Carson, Bardsley, McCartney, Reid, Benjani, Jones, Henderson, Meyler

Doubtful Jones (groin), Reid (hamstring)

Injured Mensah (hamstring, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide DWDWDL

Disciplinary record Y65 R6

Leading scorer Bent 20

Match pointers

• Sunderland have lost just one of their last nine league games but have picked up one win from their last 25 away matches

• Liverpool have won each of the five games that Alberto Aquilani has started in the league this season, conceding one goal

• Liverpool have hit the goal frame 14 times this season, more than any other side

• Darren Bent has been caught offside 48 times this season – more than any other player in the division

• Liverpool have won their last seven games at home

LiverpoolSunderlandPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk

Let the beachball gags continue. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters

Nevermind Beachballgate, Liverpool’s Champions League hopes will also be up in the air if they lose to Lyon. You can follow the action with Paul from around 7.15pm (kick-off is 7.45pm).

In the meantime, there’s mixed news on the injury front: Steven Gerrard will return tonight, but Fernando Torres is still missing through injury.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Darren Bent scores for Sunderland – via a balloon deflection – at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Mike Jones, the referee who incorrectly awarded Darren Bent’s goal for Sunderland against Liverpool on Saturday, will not officiate in the Premier League this weekend.

Bent’s shot struck a beach ball thrown from the visiting section at the Stadium of Light and deflected past the Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Fifa’s laws of the game state “the referee should stop, suspend or abandon the match because of outside interference of any kind”, meaning the goal should have been ruled out and the match restarted with a drop ball.

Jones will take charge of the Championship game between Peterborough and Scunthorpe at London Road.

Jones’s mistake has been widely criticised by a number of his former colleagues with Jeff Winter, Dermot Gallagher and Graham Poll all stating their surprise that such a basic error was made in a Premier League game.

“It was a glaring error and it’s difficult to fathom,” said Gallagher. “Even referees in local parks should know that if there is an outside agent on the pitch then you stop the game and restart it with a drop ball.

“When you set out as a referee you learn the laws of the game and everyone should know it. For it to happen at this level and in such a high-profile game is unbelievable. Any one of the four officials should have stepped in.”

The possibility of the game being replayed has been rejected by the Premier League.