Sunderland vs Liverpool live: Reds name Szoboszlai replacement ahead of tough Premier League away test

Two-thirds of the way into the season and Liverpool are closer to Brentford than Chelsea, nearer in terms of points to their neighbours Everton than their old enemies Manchester United. Still more damningly, they are further from league leaders Arsenal, 17 ahead of them, than West Ham, 16 behind them in the relegation zone.

It was an understatement to say their campaign was not supposed to go this way; not as defending champions, not with the £450m of spending that Arne Slot prefers to see referenced in terms of the £300m Liverpool have brought in during his reign.

Arne Slot has made two changes to the side that lost to Manchester City, with both coming in defence. The suspended Dominik Szoboszlai makes way for Wataru Endo at right-back, while Andy Robertson comes in for Milos Kerkez at left-back.

Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris makes just one change to the side that lost to Arsenal, with Chemsdine Talbi making way for Nilson Angulo on the wing. Brian Brobbey leads the line once more, supported by Enzo Le Fee and Trai Hume.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Endo, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Jones, Nyoni, Ramsay, Morrison, Ngumoha.

Sunderland XI: Roefs; Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Reinildo; Sadiki, Diarra; Angulo, Le Fee, Hume; Brobbey.

Subs: Ellborg, Cirkin, O’Nien, Geertruida, Rigg, Isidor, Mundle, Mayenda, Talbi.

The line-ups will be released in the next five minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news tonight...

Sunderland are without Granit Xhaka due to injury as well as January signing Jocelin Ta Bi, who is getting up to match fitness. Bertrand Traore may be available to return from a knee injury. Lutsharel Geertruida was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool in January but remained at Sunderland and could feature against the Reds.

Liverpool’s season MVP Szoboszlai will be absent after the debacle that surrounded his late red card against City, while the club’s injury problems are not likely to improve for the trip to the north east. Joe Gomez is unlikely to make a comeback, while Jeremy Frimpong is set for a few more weeks on the sidelines. Alexander Isak, Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are out for months.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk insists there is not yet any concern about becoming detached from the top of the table.

A dramatic late defeat to Manchester City - their eighth of the Premier League campaign - left Arne Slot's side five points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester United and four behind Chelsea in fifth, which increasingly looks like being the minimum requirement for Champions League qualification.

With both of their rivals playing on Tuesday the gap could be even greater before Liverpool walk out at Sunderland, who held them to a 1-1 draw at Anfield in early December and are only three points further back in ninth.

Sunderland are unbeaten in all 12 of their Premier League home games this season (W7 D5). It’s the longest run by a promoted side from the start of a top-flight season since 1977/78.

Having won their first two away league games this season, Liverpool have since won just two of their last 10 on the road (D3 L5).

Manchester City’s crucial 2-1 victory over Liverpool ended in bizarre scenes at Anfield as Dominik Szoboszlai was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity – despite City scoring a goal from that opportunity.

Szoboszlai had earlier scored a stunning free-kick to give Liverpool the lead, before Bernardo Silva poached an equaliser and Erling Haaland converted a late penalty to give City the advantage in added time.

Rayan Cherki thought he had scored a bizarre late, late third to cap a wild game, shooting from the halfway line with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker well out of his area – only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review, which led to Szoboszlai being sent off instead.

Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will be suspended for just one match after his red card against Manchester City, with the Hungarian avoiding a three-game ban due to a specific rule.

Szoboszlai was shown a straight red card in the final minutes of Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 loss to City at Anfield on Sunday, with the Hungarian dragging back Erling Haaland when the Norwegian was running through to tap in to an empty net.