EPL: Liverpool target Sunderland’s scalp after Man City’s shocker
By Joel Masibo, February 11, 2026Struggling Liverpool will travel to the Stadium of Light on Wednesday evening, February 11, 2026, for a Premier League action as the Reds seek redemption. Arne Slot’s side seeks to put Sunday’s, February 8, 2026, late home defeat against Manchester City behind them when they take on Regis Le Bris’ outfit.
Speaking ahead of the crucial tie, forward Florian Wirtz is hopeful lessons can be learned from the weekend moving forward. “I think we can take a few things from the City game for the rest of the season,” Wirtz told Liverpoolfc.com.
Goals
“I think in the end, [it’s] my personal opinion and maybe also a few others agree with me, that we didn’t deserve to lose because we made a good game. Of course, in the first half, we didn’t have that much control, but we also didn’t concede a lot of chances against us,” he added.
“I think we made a quite good game, [won] a lot of duels, especially the second half was good from us. We put pressure on a top team, and I think that we can see that we are in the same [level] and that we compete with top teams.”
On facing Sunderland away, who have a great record at home this season, Wirtz said: “We know it’s going to be physical, so we just try to bring 100 per cent on the pitch until the last minute and take hopefully the three points home.”
Former teammates
On facing Sunderland and taking on some former teammates, the forward admitted that he understands the game approach of some key Sunderland players, among them Granit Xhaka.
”Yeah, I know two players of them very well, because I played with them in Leverkusen – [Granit] Xhaka and [Nordi] Mukiele, so I’m happy to see them again. But of course, it’s not because I want to see them, I want to take the three points. That’s the task for us. We just try everything to get the three points and everything else doesn’t matter,” he said.
In 2026 alone, Liverpool have won just one of their seven league games, and earlier this season, nine defeats in 12 games was their worst run of form in 71 years.