Brendan Rodgers (right) and Luis Suarez will be aiming to avoid a slip-up at home (Picture: Reuters)

Liverpool face relegation-threatened Sunderland at Anfield tonight in a Premier League clash the Reds are expected to win, as they continue their challenge for a first league title in 24 years.

Every game is a cup final for Liverpool and they can’t afford any slip-ups – especially after slipping to third in the table after Manchester City humbled their city rivals 3-0 at Old Trafford.

A win for Liverpool would see them return to second spot but they have to be wary of a Sunderland side fighting for their lives and likely to be fired up for the clash by their manager Gus Poyet, who led them to this season’s Capital One Cup final.

Steven Gerrard is only one booking away from a two-game suspension, so it will be interesting to see if that will affect his performance

Liverpool’s home form has been outstanding this season with only a loss to Southampton and a draw against Aston Villa contributing to the only dropped points at Anfield.

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Brendan Rodgers’ men should remember their performance against Aston Villa, when they could only manage a 2-2 draw because they started so slowly and let Villa gain the initiative in the match.

Admittedly Liverpool recovered from a two-goal deficit to scramble a 2-2 draw, but – on paper – that was a game similar to the Sunderland fixture with Liverpool expected to win.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard is only one booking away from a two-game suspension, so it will be interesting to see if that will affect his performance.

However, more often than not this season manager Brendan Rodgers has inspired his players to go into games with the right attitude and, especially when roared on by the Kop at Anfield, Liverpool have started games at a high tempo, resulting in many victories.

Hopefully tonight will see another Liverpool victory to keep the title dream alive.

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