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Arne Slot has acknowledged the scale of the challenge awaiting Liverpool on Wednesday night, hailing Sunderland’s standout return to the Premier League ahead of their midweek meeting on Wearside.
Many observers predicted an immediate drop back to the Championship for the Black Cats, but instead Regis Le Bris’ side have exceeded expectations. As things stand, they sit comfortably in the top half of the table and are just seven points adrift of the Champions League places — a remarkable achievement for a newly promoted team.
Victory over the reigning champions would see Sunderland draw level on points with Liverpool, who arrive at the Stadium of Light looking to steady themselves after a narrow 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. That result has only intensified scrutiny during a spell where performances have not consistently translated into wins.
Slot admitted the timing of the trip is far from ideal. Sunderland remain the only Premier League side yet to taste defeat at home this season — a statistic that underlines the scale of the task facing the Reds.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, the Liverpool manager was quick to defend his own players while also praising the resilience of their upcoming opponents.
“I have to credit my players,” Slot explained. “We’ve had plenty of setbacks this season and there have been moments where we didn’t get what we deserved. But time and again, just a few days later, the team responds with strong performances. That hasn’t always brought victories, but in most matches we’ve been competitive or better.”
He pointed out that only in isolated spells — against Crystal Palace, Manchester City and possibly the first half away at Arsenal — had Liverpool been clearly second best. In the majority of fixtures, he believes his side have matched or outperformed their opponents despite difficult circumstances.
Turning his attention back to Sunderland, Slot admitted he had taken note of their formidable home form. “It’s not just about their unbeaten record at home,” he added. “They’ve had an excellent season overall. When you consider they’ve already hosted City and Arsenal and still maintained that record, it tells you everything about their quality and how strong they are on their own ground.”
When asked whether Sunderland’s campaign stands out as the most impressive in the division given their newly promoted status, Slot broadened the praise. He highlighted Arsenal, Aston Villa and Brentford as other teams enjoying strong seasons, but insisted Sunderland deserve significant recognition.
“For a promoted team to adapt so quickly and perform at this level is a major achievement,” he said. “That’s a huge compliment to their players and their manager.”
With confidence high on Wearside and Liverpool eager to rediscover momentum, Wednesday’s clash promises to be a fascinating test of resilience and ambition for both sides.
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