IT ALL POINTS TO A DRAW

Match preview: Sunderland v Liverpool

Saturday, October 17. Kick-off: 3pm

As a fan, it's never easy to tip against a Liverpool win but the Reds are not a great price to come out on top at Sunderland this weekend. Just 11-10 is about the best you'll do and that's hardly attractive.

We scraped three points there last season thanks to Nando but it was a poor match and the Black Cats have improved a lot over the past 12 months. Our away form has been patchy to say the least with two defeats away from Anfield already.

On the plus side, we have a cracking record on Wearside with just one defeat in our past 25 clashes with Sunderland up there. 

But on the negative, Gerrard and Torres have been struggling with injuries all week and both will be missing. It gives all the usual suspects a chance to stick the knife in and go on about Liverpool being a two-man team but we will be relying on Kuyt and Benayoun to hit the target. 

It may even give a chance for crying hole (AKA Ryan Babel) to start but he may have cried wolf too many times for Rafa to take the risk.

To add to matters Javier Mascherano, Lucas and Emiliano Insua are coming into the game on the back of long journeys to play for Brazil and Argentina.

I'd be happy with a draw in the circumstances and that's not a bad bet at 5-2 with Betfred.

SELECTION: Draw at 5-2 with Betfred

ODDS:

Sunderland to win: 3-1 (Betfred)

Liverpool to win: 11-10 (Bet365)

Draw: 5-2 (Betfred)