Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

"Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers sprinted out of the technical area. Whether or not that influenced the ref's decision or not I don't know. It was a very cynical attempt to stop Emre Can by Liam Bridcutt, but the Liverpool man did dive."

Emre Can goes charging down the right and Liam Bridcutt tries to intercept. The Liverpool midfielder goes to ground following the slightest of contact and referee Craig Pawson shows Bridcutt a second yellow card. He's off! Harsh - a free-kick? Probably. A booking? Probably not.

Image source, Reuters

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

"When a player is taking people on like Lazar Markovic is it shows someone who really is playing with confidence."

Poetic, Ian Pankhurst. And you were nearly gifted another line for your verse as Lazar Markovic drags a shot just wide of the post.

Luke:, external I think Lazar Markovic is clearly benefiting from Liverpool unable to use their sole tactic of kicking it for Raheem Sterling to run on to.

Ian Pankhurst:, external Markovic is a wonderful player. He moves on the pitch as effortlessly as his long flowing locks do in the wind.

Yullaw:, external From time to time mediocre players do have a good game and today is the good game for Markovic.

Back under way at the Stadium of Light, where Liverpool have made a change - Dejan Lovren replaces Steven Gerrard.

BBC Sport's Chris Bevan at Turf Moor

"The Rangers team coach has just arrived at Turf Moor, with boss Harry Redknapp hoping to finally find a remedy for their awful away form that has seen them lose nine out of nine on the road so far this season.

"Lose again today, and QPR will set a Premier League record for the number of away defeats at the start of the season, beating Bolton's tally from the 1995-96 campaign, although they have a way to go to equal Manchester United's all-time top-flight record of 16 defeats in 1930-31. It probably goes without saying that both of those teams ended up going down."

Mark Hampson:, external Confident all season Liverpool will finish third. United have exceeded expectations but LFC are on a decent run and playing well too.

Josh Andrews:, external Liverpool should at least have a 2-0 lead going into the break. Slightly concerned!

James Coleman:, external You can't call it a Liverpool turnaround, they narrowly beat AFC Wimbeldon and are just leading a woeful Sunderland side.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator at The Hawthorns

"New West Brom manager Tony Pulis has inherited a team that have lost seven of their last 10 league matches, winning only 11 top-flight games in the last 18 months. Pulis will set about making his new team more organised and harder to beat, with a more solid foundation from which to win games. He will evaluate the squad and play to its strengths.

"Hull needed a positive Christmas, and their haul of six points from a possible nine was vital given they had only picked up four from the previous 40. They'll be prepared for the 'Pulis' effect both on and off the pitch and planning to dampen the new-found enthusiasm at The Hawthorns."

Jonathan Pearce
Match of the Day commentator at Goodison Park

"Manchester City have won 11 of their last 12 matches, even though they've been missing Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Vincent Kompany. Yaya Toure has now departed for the Africa Cup of Nations but the champions have proved they can cope without key players.

"Six defeats in eight games have brought the biggest headache in the managerial career of Everton's Roberto Martinez. He needs a quick turn in fortune. The Toffees must cut out individual errors. Eleven have led directly to league goals conceded so far - the worst record in the division."

Conor McNamara
Match of the Day commentator at the King Power Stadium

"How Leicester City would love an established Premier League striker like Christian Benteke - except that their opponents this weekend already have him and they still find it nigh on impossible to find the back of the net.

"Never mind 'Goal of the Month', Aston Villa fans have been joking about their 'Month Of The Goal' competition. After not scoring at all in October, Paul Lambert's team only found the net three times in a winless November. Then just four times in December. Villa are yet to score in the league in January."

Simon Brotherton
Match of the Day commentator at Stamford Bridge

"When these teams last met just over a month ago, Chelsea were six points clear at the top of the table and yet to suffer their first defeat of the season. There's nothing now separating Chelsea from Manchester City, who've drawn level after winning eight of their last nine league games since mid-November.

"One good piece of news for Newcastle, amid the current uncertainty, is the return of goalkeeper Tim Krul, who has missed the last ten games in all competitions because of injury. They haven't kept a clean sheet since the last time he played, which was against QPR on 22 November."

Martin Fisher
Match of the Day commentator at Liberty Stadium

"Both Swansea's and West Ham's form has been a little mixed of late, but with each residing within the top half of the table, there's little chance of either being sucked into a relegation scrap.

"Instead, goals in the New Year will be similar in South Wales and the East End - to finish in the top 10 and have a genuine crack at the FA Cup."

Image source, Opta

So far, so good for Liverpool then. Here's a little taster of what's coming up after this match...

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

"Liverpool have completely dominated the first half and Sunderland were unable to get to grips with them. The visitors should be two or three goals up really. If they do go on to win this game there will be hardly any questions about the decision to let Raheem Sterling go on a break. If they draw or lose, however, and we'll probably be talking about nothing else."

MOTD's Steve Wilson at Stadium of Light

"Liverpool have worked hard to go with their silky play. It has not been a good first half for Sunderland. The only good news for them is that they are only one goal behind."

Tim G:, external Liverpool need to put this game to bed with all this dominance. They are most certainly going to concede a silly goal or two.

Andy Donley:, external Liverpool's up-turn in form is a result of them rediscovering the high energy pressing game that worked so well for them last season.

Porled Pork:, external Liverpool could really do with another. Sunderland can't be this bad for 90 minutes

A defensive blunder from Ipswich's Tommy Smith gifts the visitors the lead. Smith misjudges a hopeful punt forward, attempts to head the ball back to goalkeeper Bartosz Białkowski but doesn't get enough on it as Chris Martin reaches it first to prod home.

Derby would leapfrog second-place Ipswich with a win and be level on points with leaders Bournemouth, who play Norwich later today.

Gus Poyet is stood at the entrance to the tunnel, ready to spin and race it back to the dressing room. Those Sunderland players are going to cop an earful in the next few minutes.

Brendan Rodgers sighs then claps his hands after watching his side almost make it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time. Emre Can plays a lovely ball over the top and Fabio Borini, playing on the shoulder of the last defender, latches on to it but puts his angled shot into the side netting.

Image source, PA