ALMOST three years after Sunderland surprised the rest of the country by defeating Liverpool at the Stadium of Light, the Reds are back on Wearside tonight with the Black Cats desperate to win a Premiership home match for the first time since that December day. Chief Football Writer Paul Fraser examines how the Sunderland teams compare.

Goalkeeper

Jurgen Macho v Ben Alnwick

One may have been an experienced Austrian international, but the other is a highly promising teenager with a tremendous chance of becoming a future England cap. Alnwick's Premiership chance may have arrived sooner than expected but only because he warrants it. ALNWICK

Right-back

Stephen Wright v

Nyron Nosworthy

Despite Nosworthy's emergence as one of the few bright spots from an otherwise depressing start to the campaign, there is no doubting that Wright is likely to be straight back in when he recovers from a calf problem. WRIGHT

Centre-back

Phil Babb v Gary Breen

Both have Ireland caps behind them and both have shown a tendency to make the occasional error at Premiership level. But, despite Babb's return to better form in the Championship, Breen's leadership edges him ahead. BREEN

Joachim Bjorklund v

Danny Collins

That Collins started his first game as a centre-back in the top-flight in the defeat to Birmingham makes it too early to judge him at this level. Bjorklund's record of playing in the World Cup and with Valencia makes him a more reliable defender. BJORKLUND

Left-back

George McCartney v

Justin Hoyte

Since arriving from Arsenal on loan, Hoyte has become by far Sunderland's best performer. The problem is that he has been forced to play out of position and had McCartney not been sidelined through injury he would be first choice left-back. McCARTNEY

Right-midfield

Michael Gray v Tommy Miller

Gray: A left-back by trade. Miller: An attacking midfielder by choice. For that reason neither player would be truly capable of filling the right-midfield position for a prolonged period of time. On the basis of Saturday's first half against Birmingham, Miller would edge it. MILLER

Centre-midfield

Gavin McCann v

Dean Whitehead

Whitehead has shown glimpses this season that he has the ability to make it in the Premiership, but not enough. Although his time on Wearside ended with a severe dip in form, McCann shone to such an extent that he was handed an England cap before his move to Aston Villa. McCANN

Paul Thirlwell v

Christian Bassila

Despite a growing reputation when he emerged through the youth ranks, Thirlwell never fulfilled his potential. In Bassila, providing he stays fit, McCarthy has a defensive midfielder who looks capable of playing in the English top-flight. BASSILA

Left-midfield

Kevin Kilbane v Andy Welsh

Kilbane infamously stuck two fingers up at Sunderland supporters and was barracked. Despite all this, and Welsh's bright start, Kilbane has proved he can star as a regular in the Premiership with Everton. KILBANE

Striker

Tore Andre Flo v Jon Stead

When Peter Reid paid big money for Flo in the August of 2002 he was billed as the man to save Sunderland from the drop. Four goals in 29 league appearances didn't even begin to repay the transfer fee. Stead may never cost any club that amount of money but, even though he is yet to score, he could still come good. STEAD

Kevin Phillips v Andy Gray

Gray's place is not even assured tonight after scoring just once in his first 13 appearances for Sunderland. Phillips became the club's post-war record goalscorer by hitting 130 in 235 appearances. No contest. PHILLIPS

Substitutes

Michael Proctor scored the late winner against Liverpool in 2002 but has since fallen down the ladder to Hartlepool, via Rotherham. None of the subs - Michael Ingham, Emerson Thome, David Bellion nor Marcus Stewart - remain.

Could any of tonight's expected bench warmers - Liam Lawrence, Kelvin Davis, Chris Brown, Steve Caldwell and Martin Woods - change a game for the better?

Perhaps, but reputations of the 2002 subs are more influential.

FINAL SCORE

Team of 2002 7 Team of 2005 5

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