Reds must banish the pain of defeat

Having suffered two defeats in a row - and having had a long time now to mull over them both - I'd expect Liverpool's players will be raring to go at Sunderland on Saturday, writes Kop legend Tommy Smith.

They should be.
 
For all the annoyance of suffering three league defeats already this term, we equally seem to have shown a real appetite for getting the job done early and in emphatic style against some of the so called lesser lights in the Premier league.
 
Sunderland won't be easy under Steve Bruce and will of course be buoyed by the point they took from Old Trafford.
 
But we've simply got to be looking to win games like these now and if we do show the hunger and desire that's been there against Burnley, Stoke and Hull, then we can come back from the Stadium, of Light with the points.
 
Then I'm sure the supporters and everyone at Anfield will feel better.
 
Of course there is still a worry that we may lose players to injury thanks to another irritating and untimely international break.
 
However, if Gerrard, Torres and co are all okay to play and we impose ourselves on Sunderland in the same way we have done on the teams I've just mentioned, then we can banish those memories from Italy and Stamford Bridge.
 
But we'll need to be aggressive and positive and go out to dominate Saturday's game right from the word go.
 
This will be the first of three crucially important matches, with the Champions League clash at home to Lyon and then the visit of Manchester United the following weekend to come.
 
We need to be in top form to win them all and a determined and confident display in the North East will set us up well for the other two matches.
 
The views expressed in this story do not necessarily reflect the views of Liverpool Football Club.