After two consecutive wins against Bournemouth and Hull City, Sunderland’s reviving run faced a stumbling block against Liverpool last week as two late goals from the Reds finally broke their stubborn defence in the last quarter.
They face Leicester City next and David Moyes expects his team to continue their winning run against the Foxes, who are having a below average season. Sunderland could well be out of the relegation zone, which has been their home since day one this season if they win two–three games on the trot considering how Hull City and West Ham United have been faltering recently.
A clear result is very difficult to predict as strangely Leicester City’s away record has been the second worst in the league so far after Burnley collecting just 1 point in 5 games and Sunderland’s home record has been the worst in the league, garnering only 4 points from 6 games.
Defence
While Vito Mannone is back, he was benched in the last match against Liverpool and Moyes is unlikely to give chance to the former Arsenal keeper ahead of Jordan Pickford. Pickford has really impressed everyone with his impeccable ball distribution and reactions.
Billy Jones is currently the first choice ahead of Javier Manquillo as the right-back and is likely to remain that way against Leicester, which Moyes sees as a must-win game. A good piece of news will be Djilobodji returning to the game and it boosts up Moyes’ options on the central defensive and the centre-back position. John O’Shea is expected to take his position in the centre-back, partnering with Lamine Kone. Patrick van Aanholt will continue to take his left-back position.
Midfield
Sunderland definitely felt the absence of Paddy McNair in the defensive midfield position against Liverpool. Although Jan Kirchhoff is back, he wasn’t fit enough to start against Liverpool. We hope the German to start against Leicester and given his abilities in that position, Moyes is sure to have a far more disciplined midfield.
Denayer is expected to recover and join the duo in midfield will be N’dong. Pienaar was booked yet again against Liverpool and we expect him to start on the bench. Jack Rodwell is also nearing his return to the squad and Moyes is expected to have a very strong squad by the time when they face Chelsea in a few weeks’ time.
Attack
Victor Anichebe will surely trouble the Leicester’s backline with his physicality and will be joined by Watmore behind Sunderland’s best player Jermain Defoe. Defoe has scored seven goals and provided 2 assists this season and Anichebe has already bagged 3 goals and 1 assist after returning.
