KEVIN KILBANE last night singled out Kevin Phillips as the man to fire Sunderland to safety.

The Black Cats entertain Liverpool tomorrow knowing defeat could see them hit rock bottom in the Premiership. And Kilbane is convinced that if Sunderland can get Phillips - with just one goal this season - to hit top form again, the relegation threat will soon become a distant memory.

The club's star striker has been the subject of intense speculation about his future all week, with reports suggesting he is about to quit Wearside when the transfer window opens in January.

But Kilbane said: "He is a world- class player and he will get goals for us. We need that at this moment and he needs to score goals for his confidence.

"He is one of the best strikers in the Premier League and I'm sure if he gets one goal he will go on to score a load for us.

"He is a confident player but at the moment he is not scoring. We need him to be doing that and once he gets one I'm sure we will see him back to his best."

But Kilbane revealed he does not think the club's position is down to their shot-shy forwards.

He added: "It's plain and obvious to see that we have to get our forwards scoring goals. Tore Andre and Kevin have both been starved of chances in recent games and that's not their fault.

"It's maybe up to the strikers to score goals but it's also up to the rest of the team to provide them with goals. We all have to be more creative."

When the Reds travel to the North-East tomorrow Kilbane believes the best way Sunderland can hope to win is by going on the attack.

Fans are calling for flying Frenchman David Bellion to be included from the start to boost the defence-minded hosts.

And Kilbane believes those supporters have got a point, saying: "It's not for me to say whether he should be in the team but there is a case for it because we have to be more positive.

"You could do with having a David Bellion in there because he is a good player and he is a player who offers plenty of pace.

"At the moment we are a side that needs to create chances and score goals, so possibly there is a case for him."

After Sunderland's depressing run of games -they have lost their last four matches - Kilbane insists the Liverpool match could prove to be the spur they need.

He said: "You would have to say it's a good time to play them. We are in desperate need of a pick-me- up and I'm sure we will all be desperate to do well against them.

"We have got to be positive or it's pointless us going out there. If we can create some chances then who knows."

Read more about Sunderland here.