Premier League preview: Sunderland v Liverpool

Liverpool will travel to Sunderland on Saturday looking for just their second English Premier League win of 2012.

A series of fixtures in the Carling Cup – which they won after beating Cardiff City on penalties – and the FA Cup mean Kenny Dalglish’s side have played just seven times in the top-flight this year.

Just one of those matches – a 3-0 triumph at Wolves – ended in victory and successive 2-1 defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal have seen Liverpool slip to seventh on the table.

They are only six points above 14th-placed Swansea City and sit 10 points behind Arsenal in fourth, meaning the club’s chances of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League are almost gone.

But with a game in hand, Liverpool can keep their flickering hopes alive of finishing fourth with a win on Wearside and forward Craig Bellamy feels the club’s squad have the ability to achieve more this season.

“We haven’t got the results in the league this season that a lot of our play has deserved,” Bellamy said.

“I think the personnel are here. It’s just fine margins – we’re that close.”

“We won the Carling Cup, we’re still in the FA Cup and we’ve still got plenty to play for in the league. That’s not a bad season.”

“There’s a lot to be positive about. I’m looking forward to being part of it over the next year or so and then sitting back and watching the progress continue.”

Liverpool have lost to Sunderland just once since 2002, and they have won four of their past five trips to the Stadium of Light.

Despite FA Cup wins over Middlesbrough and Arsenal in February, Sunderland have not won any of their past three Premier League matches including a disappointing 4-0 loss at West Bromwich Albion.

In their last fixture, Shola Ameobi’s injury-time strike robbed them of all three points in a tense 1-1 draw against Newcastle.

Stephane Sessegnon and Lee Cattermole were both sent off in that match and will miss not only the Liverpool match but several more, while defender Wes Brown (knee) remains on the sidelines.

Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson (hamstring) may return against Sunderland but Daniel Agger (rib) and Lucas Leiva (knee) will not feature.