Sunderland face a potentially significant setback ahead of their Premier League clash with Liverpool on Matchday 25, as midfielder Yann M’Vila remains doubtful for the trip to Anfield. The French international picked up a knock in Tuesday night’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Manchester City, raising concerns about his availability for Saturday’s crucial fixture against Jürgen Klopp’s side.
M’Vila, who has been one of Sunderland’s standout performers this season, suffered the injury during a challenge involving City striker Sergio Agüero. According to manager Sam Allardyce, the midfielder sustained a painful bruise after being caught by the Argentine’s boot. “Yann received a blow from the toe of Agüero’s shoe,” Allardyce explained in his press conference. “He has a bruise. He did not train today (Thursday), so we have to wait to see if he will be available on Saturday.”
The 25-year-old has been central to Sunderland’s midfield, combining work rate with technical ability and playing a pivotal role in both breaking up opposition attacks and transitioning play forward. His absence would represent a considerable blow for the Black Cats, who are already locked in a desperate battle for survival near the foot of the Premier League table. Allardyce, who took charge earlier in the season with the goal of steering Sunderland away from relegation trouble, will be hoping his influential midfielder can recover in time for the high-stakes match.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are pushing for European qualification under new boss Klopp, making the contest all the more daunting for Sunderland. Anfield has often been an unforgiving venue for visiting sides, and facing Liverpool without a player of M’Vila’s stature could tip the balance further against Allardyce’s men.
However, Sunderland fans have at least one positive development to celebrate: defender Younes Kaboul is edging closer to a return. The French centre-back has resumed training after spending nearly two months on the sidelines with a thigh injury. His comeback will be welcomed by a squad that has struggled with defensive consistency throughout the campaign. Kaboul’s experience and leadership at the back could prove crucial as Sunderland prepare for a challenging run of fixtures.
Allardyce confirmed Kaboul’s progress, noting that the defender’s reintegration into training is an important step. While it remains to be seen whether he will be ready to feature against Liverpool, simply having him back in contention boosts morale within the squad.
The potential absence of M’Vila highlights Sunderland’s ongoing difficulties with squad depth, particularly in midfield, where the options to replace him are limited. The manager may be forced to reshuffle his system, potentially calling on players such as Lee Cattermole or Sebastian Larsson to shoulder greater responsibility in the middle of the park.
For Sunderland, every point is vital at this stage of the season. With relegation rivals picking up results elsewhere, Allardyce will be keen to avoid leaving Anfield empty-handed. Whether or not M’Vila is able to play could be a decisive factor in determining Sunderland’s chances against a Liverpool side eager to climb the table.
