Liverpool's unlikely title chase is looking ever more likely with every passing week. They are on red-hot form at the moment, having notched up six consecutive Premier League victories on their way to third place in the table. Should they beat Sunderland tonight, they would move just a point behind league leaders Chelsea -- albeit with Manchester City likely to move a further three points clear at the top by winning their two games in hand.
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Liverpool certainly should be able to beat a Sunderland team which continues to flounder in the relegation zone. Gus Poyet's side has a few games in hand on the teams around them, though certainly would rather just have some more points on the board. They're winless in their last four league games, and are three points adrift of safety at present.
For this match, Poyet has more absentees to contend with, too. Alongside the long-term injured goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, forward Fabio Borini and defender Marcos Alonso are ineligible and suspended respectively. Defender Valentin Roberge and forward Steven Fletcher are both doubts. Liverpool, meanwhile, only have a couple of absentees, with defensive duo Sebastián Coates and José Enrique still unavailable.
Liverpool injuries and suspensions
Out: Sebastián Coates (knee), José Enrique (knee). In doubt: None.
Sunderland injuries and suspensions
Out: Keiren Westwood (shoulder), Fabio Borini (ineligible), Marcos Alonso (suspended). In doubt: Valentin Roberge (knock), Steven Fletcher (ankle).
Projected lineups
Liverpool: Simon Mignolet; Jon Flanagan, Daniel Agger, Martin Skrtel, Glen Johnson; Joe Allen, Steven Gerrard, Jordan Henderson; Raheem Sterling, Luis Suárez, Daniel Sturridge.
Sunderland: Vito Mannone; Jack Colback, Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Phil Bardsley; Sebastian Larsson, Liam Bridcutt, Ki Sung-Yueng; Emanuele Giaccherini, Jozy Altidore, Adam Johnson.
Match Date/Time: Wednesday, 8 p.m. local, 4 p.m. ET
Venue: Anfield, Liverpool, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sportsnet World (Canada), Sky Sports 1/HD (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.), Sky Go (U.K.)