Lee Dixon: Sunderlands odds to beat Liverpool are irresistible

Can Gerrard lift Liverpool?
Lee Dixon reckons Martin O'Neill's men are value to get their first win of the season on Saturday. That said, he is expecting improvement from Liverpool...
How will the international break have affected Liverpool? Steven Gerrard had two good games for England but manager Brendan Rodgers will have used the time to think about how he can get the best from his talented squad.
That 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal a fortnight ago was a wake up call for Rodgers. If he was in any doubt about the scale of the task facing him that result should have acquainted him with all the pressure that comes with managing a top club.
Sunderland, meanwhile, have played only two matches and both were draws. Two points hardly amounts to a brilliant start but the truth is that both were earned away from home against good teams. First they held Arsenal to a 0-0 and then they clipped Swansea's wings in a lively 2-2.
Martin O'Neill is a top manager. I've heard some people say that the Black Cats could "do a Newcastle" this term and crash the top six. Unlikely, what the Magpies achieved last season doesn't happen every year. I'd say top ten - for which Sunderland are 1.9520/21 - would be fair progress.
Match Odds
The odds available on Sunderland stand out. That's probably the most generous price on a home team I've seen this term. How on earth can they be 3.55/2 to beat Liverpool? I'm having some of that but only because I like the value. I actually think Liverpool will raise themselves for this one and earn a draw.
Nobody knows what impact this week's developments about the Hillsborough disaster will have on the players. Of course, it's a matter of far more significance than any football match but, at the same time, I know that clubs can be galvanised by events off the pitch. It might give them impetus - that's probably the most sensible way to look at it.
I love those odds on Sunderland but I reckon the Reds can earn a point. Both sides are win-shy - Opta tell me that the hosts haven't won for over ten in the league while Liverpool have only four wins in their last 18. So perhaps a lay of Liverpool is the way to go.
Both Teams To Score
I have to say that I'm astounded to learn from Opta that Liverpool have kept only two clean sheets in their last 17 matches. As an ex-defender, that makes me wince. Rodgers is an intelligent boss and he needs to address that one very quickly. So I certainly expect Sunderland to find the net on Saturday. Steven Fletcher grabbed a brace against Sunderland and he strikes me as a good signing.
Recommended Bets
Back Sunderland @ 3.55/2
Lay Liverpool @ 2.285/4
Back both teams to score @ 1.84/5
The Tactical View: Michael Cox
Liverpool have been hugely underpriced so far this season. Against Arsenal, I was amazed that they were odds-on, and thought I was getting a brilliant bet by laying them at [1.98] the day before the game – but a couple of hours before kick-off, the price dropped to [1.92]! That was unbelievable, and again [2.26] looks too short away at Sunderland, who have assembled a good side under Martin O’Neill. I like Brendan Rodgers and think he’ll succeed in the long-term, but the display against Arsenal was a step in the wrong direction, and I’m surprised they’re the favourites for this game. Lay Liverpool at [2.26].
The Betfair Trader's View: Alan Thompson
In recent years this game has been interesting, Liverpool’s last ten visits to the Stadium of Light have resulted in six victories, three wins for Sunderland and just one draw. In the Liverpool wins I was surprised to see Sunderland failed to score. However, the Reds also failed to score in two of the three Sunderland wins. The only game that has produced more than two goals in the last ten renewals was a Sunderland 2-1 victory.
There are a couple of ways to play this depending on your attitude to risk. Under 2.5 goals at [1.92] is value. Or, if you don’t like backing odds and want a bigger return, try “dutching” 1-0 and 0-1, which should give you approx 4/1 your stake, you could also add a saver on 1-1 at [7.6]. There hasn’t been a 0-0 between these two at Anfield or the Stadium of Light since November 2002 (13 games).