Source: Liverpool_Echo
Pre-match preview: Liverpool FC v Sunderland, Premier League
Liverpool's last five gamesSept 22: Carling Cup - Liverpool 2 Northampton Town 2 (aet, 2-4 on pens)Sept 19: Premier League - Manchester United 3 Liverpool 2 Sept 16: Europa League - Liverpool 4 Steaua Bucharest 1Sept 12: Premier League - Birmingham 0 Liverpool 0August 29: Premier League - Liverpool 1 West Brom 0Sunderland's last five gamesSept 21: Carling Cup - Sunderland 1 West Ham 2Sept 18: Premier League - Sunderland 1 Arsenal 1Sept 11: Premier League - Wigan Athletic 1 Sunderland 1August 29: Premier League - Sunderland 1 Manchester City 0August 24: Carling Cup - Sunderland 2 Colchester United 0Past meetings28 March 2010: Premier League - Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0 (match report)3 March 2009: Premier League - Liverpool 2 Sunderland 0 (match report)2 February 2008: Premier League - Liverpool 3 Sunderland 0 (match report)At the end of an abysmal week for LFC, Hodgson and his men may be able to take some statistical comfort ahead of Saturday's 3pm kick-off Premier League tie against Steve Bruce's Sunderland. Black Cats victories at Anfield are about as rare as beach balls scoring goals. The Reds have beaten Sunderland at home in the last four encounters without conceeding and the Mackems have never beaten Liverpool in L4 in the Premier League years, their last Anfield victory being a 1-0 win in a 1983 First Division clash.Last season at Anfield, a spectacular Fernando Torres (click here for his profile) double either side of a Glen Johnson goal gave the Reds an easy 3-0 victory. Torres' first was one of his best strikes so far for LFC and was a 2009/10 goal of the season contender. Cutting in from the left and teasing two Sunderland defenders on the edge of the area, Fernando then arrowed a sublime right-footed shot into the top corner of the net to the far side of an astounded Craig Gordon. His second wasn't bad either - keeping cool in the box to hook the ball over the Sunderland keeper. The less said about Liverpool's trip to the Stadium of Light last season the better.