London - Brendan Rodgers expects a tough task in breaking down a Sunderland side that earned a creditable goalless draw at Anfield as recently as the start of December.
"They're a team that's very difficult to break down," he
said.
"They have good players, as they have shown over the course of the
season so far
"But that's our job, to go there and put on a performance to get the three points.
"A place in the top four is still going to be tough, we do respect that, but we're looking forward to that challenge in the second half of the season."
Connor Wickham insists Liverpool hold no fears for Sunderland and believes Gus Poyet's side can improve on last month's draw with Rodgers' side.
Liverpool have struggled to fill the void left by the departure to Barcelona of prolific forward Luis Suarez and with Sturridge's fitness also a problem, Wickham said: "Maybe people can say Liverpool aren't the team they were last year. They're missing players.
"We probably should have taken three points from Anfield not so long ago and now it's down to us to do that on our ground this time."