Key Facts
- Sunderland go into the match in ninth place (36 points), Liverpool are sixth (39) – the small gap makes the game important for the upper half of the table.
- Sunderland are unbeaten in 12 Premier League home games at the Stadium of Light, most recently winning 2-1 against Palace and 3-0 against Burnley – but they have suffered significant setbacks away from home.
- Liverpool has scored in each of its last five games, always with over 2.5 goals, but the 3-2 defeat in Bournemouth fits in with its shaky away form.
- Sunderland has been winless in the last five direct duels, with three games ending in a draw; with many halftime draws suggesting cautious first halves, as was the case in the 1-1 draw in December 2025.
- Sunderland will continue to be without captain Xhaka (ankle) and Jones, which means Le Fée will have a lot of ball control; Liverpool are missing Frimpong and Bradley, so Jones is likely to help out at right back.
- Liverpool’s streak of scoring after the break in all five of their most recent games and 100% over 1.5 goals speaks in favor of betting on the second half; Sunderland is at 80% under 1.5.
The 1-1 draw in December 2025 has already put this pairing on edge, and this time too, the contrast seems appealing: Régis Le Bris’ Sunderland go into the Premier League duel in ninth place with 36 points, while Arne Slot’s Liverpool are in sixth place with 39 points. On Wednesday evening at the Stadium of Light, a recent dip in form and a tough 3-0 defeat at Arsenal will face a home run that has been outstanding in the league so far.
- Venue: Stadium of Light, Sunderland
- Date and time: February 11, 2026, 9:15 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (matchday 26)
The betting market is leaning heavily toward Liverpool, with odds of around 1.7, but things are less clear-cut at Wearside. Liverpool’s goal tally from their last five games suggests an away win, and their pattern of striking the decisive blow after the break supports ideas about the second half, especially as Sunderland will be without Xhaka.
Sunderland Form & Record Check
Sunderland’s recent league weeks have fluctuated between convincing and sobering. They beat Crystal Palace 2-1 and then dismantled Burnley 3-0 at home, results that fit the picture of the Stadium of Light as their stage. However, the 3-1 defeat at West Ham and Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Arsenal showed how quickly things can fall apart when the pace of the game picks up.
Le Bris is likely to stick with a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation, even if that is still just a projection at this stage. Roefs should start behind a back four of Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, and Mandava. In the center, Sadiki and Le Fée are the most likely double six, with Hume and Talbi providing width on the wings, left and right of Diarra, while Brobbey leads the line up front. The biggest concern is in midfield and on the wings: Xhaka is still out with an ankle injury, Jones is also out, so control of the ball could fall heavily to Le Fée. Traoré is out with knee problems and Ta Bi with an ankle issue, which should keep Talbi in pole position. Mundle, Angulo, and Rigg are the most obvious options if Le Bris decides to make a change after all.
Liverpool Form & Record Check
Liverpool travel after a grueling 2-1 home defeat to Manchester City, a game that summed up their recent frustrations, even though Szoboszlai scored before being sent off shortly before the end. In the league, they looked much more like themselves again in a 4-1 win over Newcastle, but the 3-2 defeat at Bournemouth highlighted their shaky away form. In Europe, however, they remain ruthless, including a 6-0 win over Qarabag.
Slot is likely to stick with his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, although this is more of an assessment than anything confirmed. Alisson would be behind a back four of Jones, Konaté, van Dijk, and Robertson, with Mac Allister and Gravenberch in front of them as double sixes. In front of them, Wirtz is likely to appear between the lines, while Salah and Chiesa provide width around Ekitiké. With Frimpong and Bradley still out and Gomez only considered fit with a lot of goodwill, it looks very much like Jones will again fill in at right-back. Szoboszlai’s one-match ban after his late red card against Manchester City takes away one option in midfield, so the pairing of Mac Allister and Gravenberch should remain unchanged. Isak is still out with a broken fibula, which suggests that Ekitiké will remain up front.
Sunderland – Liverpool Head-to-head & statistics
The last five encounters clearly show that Liverpool rarely lose in this fixture. Sunderland has failed to win in this series, with three games ending in a draw. The most recent game in December 2025 ended 1-1 and fit the familiar pattern of this encounter: in the first half, both teams often focus on defense rather than taking wild risks. This is underpinned by a long series of draws at halftime in this duel.
