Liverpool must validate West Ham win against high-flying Sunderland

Liverpool’s meeting with Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night gives them the chance to prove their victory over West Ham United was no fluke.

The champions laboured through long spells at the London Stadium before Alexander Isak’s first league goal for the club and Cody Gakpo’s late finish halted a three-match losing run.

That result lifted the mood ahead of a fixture that now carries considerably more jeopardy than anticipated when the fixture list was released.

Sunderland travel in an unusual position as one of the least desirable opponents in the division, an accolade not typically afforded to newly promoted sides.

They have won eight of their opening 13 matches and currently sit above Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United in the table.

Their 3-2 victory over Bournemouth at the weekend encapsulated their spirit. Regis Le Bris’s side recovered from a two-goal deficit to record the club’s first-ever Premier League win from such a position.

However, they have scored only three away goals in the league this season, a total which reflects a more conservative approach on the road.

Anfield has not been a welcoming venue either, with Sunderland failing to win there in the Premier League era. Their last victory at the venue was in 1983.

Arne Slot’s side needed a red card to turn the momentum against West Ham, and their ability to control matches over longer periods remains unproven.

The manager’s selection choices will again draw attention, particularly regarding Mohamed Salah, whose benching last weekend fuelled debate over his role in a system seeking greater balance.

Whatever the line-up, Liverpool need to deliver a more coherent performance if they intend to build momentum rather than rely on isolated moments.

Liverpool’s record against newly promoted teams remains flawless across their last 12 league meetings, but few of those opponents arrived with Sunderland’s momentum.

Tomorrow night now offers both sides an opportunity to validate their trajectory, with Liverpool needing to show that their escape in London was the start of something more substantial.