Liverpool's first serious chance - Alberto Moreno forces a save from Vito Mannone with a low, hard shot from an angle. Decent stop by Mannone with his boot.

Image source, Getty Images

Signs of encouragement from Liverpool as Alberto Moreno and skipper Jordan Henderson deliver quality balls into the Sunderland box but no red shirts are able to get on the end of them.

Jurgen Klopp is missing nothing. This has been a poor start. Liverpool have enjoyed 80% possession in the opening quarter-of-an-hour but have been unable to seriously threaten the relegation-threatened visitors. The only shot of the game has come from the boot of Patrick van Aanholt - and that was well wide.

Lovren shakes his head as he goes off to applause from the home fans. It looks like he has aggravated a previous hamstring injury. 

Image source, Reuters

Big blow for Liverpool as Dejan Lovren is forced off injured. Kolo Toure is coming on. Liverpool's crowded treatment room has another casualty.

Patrick van Aanholt speeds forward down Sunderland's left before shooting wide of Simon Mignolet's goal. Good pressing from Wahbi Khazri forces Mignolet under pressure and charges down the keeper's clearance.

First glimpse of the Sunderland net as Nathaniel Clyne's through-ball just evades Roberto Firmino. Liverpool are pushing full-backs high up the pitch to provide width.  

Liverpool are chasing their second win in six league attempts. It's a scrappy start - both clubs guilty of giving the ball away cheaply in the opening exchanges.

Liverpool get the game under way attacking the Kop. Sunderland are in their all-green change strip.

Liverpool's players are greeted by lots of banners in the Kop as they make their way on to the pitch. "Football Without Fans Is Nothing" reads one in protest at ticket prices.

Guy Mowbray
BBC Match of the Day commentator

Sunderland, despite their own midweek loss, look rejuvenated and ready for their annual dash from the drop. Sam Allardyce even managed to sound somewhat upbeat when saying his side was 'in big trouble'! I can see a late goal being key. Late enough for many to miss it?"

Image source, Getty Images

It is not just performances on the pitch Liverpool fans are frustrated about. A number of supporters are planning a walkout during today's game to protest at ticket prices.

The Spion Kop 1906 group - backed by the Spirit of Shankly (SoS) - have suggested fans leave their seats in the 77th minute in protest at the £77 top-priced ticket in the new main stand.

The club have announced, external the increased price, up from £59, for next season.  

Image source, @SUNDERLANDAFC

Sunderland have been a Premier League club since 2007 yet they start four points from safety after 10 defeats in 16 games since Sam Allardyce was appointed boss in October.

They haven't kept a top-flight clean sheet since 28 November but will fancy their chances of ending that run against a Liverpool side that has not scored for the last 270 minutes in the league.

Guy Mowbray
BBC Match of the Day commentator

Image source, @lfc

In two short weeks Liverpool seem to have gone from exciting purveyors of goals galore to uninspiring also-rans. Or have they? To be honest, I don't know what to expect from them next. Their non-stop churn of fixtures must be a factor, with even their usually bouncing boss looking and sounding tired after Tuesday's defeat at Leicester.

Chris Sutton
Former Chelsea & Norwich striker on BBC Radio 5 live

"I think there's something in it [the stories suggesting Daniel Sturridge was unsettled, which Jurgen Klopp laughed off yesterday]. Klopp has questioned Sturridge's mentality. I think there are problems. In football terms people would say Strurridge has a heart the size of a pea. The number of games he has played isn't good enough. I don't trust him to stay fit long-term. I'm not disputing his talent but can you trust him? And how can Hodgson pick him for the Euros? He can't be relied upon."