Liverpool is heading into a tough match as they host Sunderland on Wednesday evening at Anfield in the upcoming Premier League round. Following their recent victory over West Ham United, the game is seen by manager Arne Slot as a true test for his team.

At the press conference, Slot said about Sunderland's level: "A big salute to their coach because he added many new players and started the season wonderfully. I watched the Chelsea vs. Arsenal match, and it was of a very high standard—two teams fighting and working hard, all the players on the field. Sunderland is the team that beat Chelsea and drew with Arsenal, which shows how strong they are."

He continued, speaking about Sunderland's ability to recover and their resilience: "They have shown a great mentality, not just in mindset but also in the way they play and the risks they take when losing the ball, as well as the speed of their play and the hard work of all eleven players to achieve a result. If you play against Chelsea and Arsenal and not all the players do this, you won’t have a chance to win, and that’s what I also saw in Sunderland."

Slot added about Joe Gomez's performance against West Ham: "This is a skill that Joe possesses. After a long period without playing, he can come back and perform as he did before, and that's not easy. Dominic Szoboszlai's support was very helpful; he delivered an outstanding performance with his great assistance."

Slot elaborated on the importance of starting the match strongly: "It's always important to start the match well, and preferably to score early. Sunderland either presses high or defends with all eleven players giving their all, which is why they are difficult to face. We will try to improve our start compared to recent matches, except for the game against West Ham where we conceded goals early."

Slot emphasized that the match against Sunderland represents a test of his team's seriousness and tactical discipline, and that the players need to maintain full focus to achieve a positive result and sustain strong performance at Anfield.