Mansion Sports – The Premier League matchweek 14 encounter of the 2025/2026 season presents an intriguing clash between Liverpool and Sunderland. 

The fixture is scheduled to take place at Anfield on Wednesday, 3 December 2025 at 20:15 local time.

Questions surrounding whether Liverpool’s recent win over West Ham United marks the beginning of a resurgence or merely a temporary spark will be tested as they host an in-form Sunderland side.

Liverpool earned a convincing 2-0 victory at the London Stadium over the weekend, while Sunderland showcased remarkable resilience by overturning a 0-2 deficit to secure a dramatic 3-2 win against Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light.

Before the action unfolds, here is the projected lineup for Liverpool vs Sunderland in December 2025.

Team Conditions Ahead of the Match

Liverpool

Liverpool’s return to winning ways was supported by a controversial red card issued to Lucas Paquetá, allowing them to regain control and defeat an in-form West Ham side. The win also ended their run of three consecutive losses.

Alexander Isak’s first Premier League goal for Liverpool—breaking his seven-match scoring drought—served as the breakthrough before Cody Gakpo sealed the victory. Arne Slot’s bold selection choices proved effective.

Mohamed Salah did not start and remained on the bench throughout the match, though Slot affirmed that the Egyptian star continues to hold a significant role in the squad.

Regardless of Salah’s involvement, Liverpool aim to climb the table, where the defending champions currently sit eighth with 21 points, trailing Chelsea by three points in third place and Manchester City by four points in second. Liverpool also boast a strong home record, having won their last 12 Premier League fixtures at Anfield against newly promoted teams. However, Sunderland have shown that they are far from a typical promoted side this season.

Sunderland

Regis Le Bris and his squad made club history last week. For the first time in 188 Premier League matches, Sunderland managed to overturn a two-goal deficit to claim victory.

Bournemouth started strongly with goals from Amine Adli and a superb strike from Tyler Adams, yet Sunderland responded through Enzo Le Fée, Bertrand Traoré, and a decisive finish from Brian Brobbey.

The win ended a run of three matches without victory and lifted Sunderland to sixth place—above Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Newcastle United—while remaining level on points with fifth-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.

Their away form, however, presents a challenge. Sunderland hold the second-worst attacking record in away matches this season with only three goals scored, although their defence has been considerably more stable, conceding just six goals on the road.

Historically, Sunderland have never defeated Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League, with their last away win against the Reds recorded in 1983. The most recent meeting between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw in January 2017.

Liverpool vs Sunderland Lineups for December 2025

Liverpool (4-2-3-1)

Changes may occur in Liverpool’s setup, with Mohamed Salah’s potential return to the starting eleven being a central point of discussion. 

Despite this, the effective attacking structure without him may convince Slot to retain the previous configuration.

Milos Kerkez and Joe Gomez are unlikely to start, with Gomez particularly being managed carefully for fitness reasons.

Injuries to Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, and Jeremie Frimpong have prompted Slot to consider deploying Curtis Jones as a right-back.

Liverpool Predicted Lineup

Sunderland (5-2-1-2)

Sunderland will be without Dennis Cirkin, Leo Hjelde, Aji Alese, and Habib Diarra, though the remainder of the squad is in good condition.

Brian Brobbey, who delivered an impressive performance off the bench, is likely to earn a starting role. Lutsharel Geertruida may also be introduced should Le Bris prioritise additional defensive stability.

Sunderland Predicted Lineup

The match stands as a pivotal test for both sides. Liverpool seek to demonstrate that last week’s win was not a mere momentary rebound, while Sunderland arrive fuelled by the momentum of their historic comeback. Whether Anfield remains an imposing fortress or becomes the stage for another surprise remains to be seen.