DANISH international goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is confident Sunderland can halt their worrying Premiership slide by breaking a 43-year hoodoo against Liverpool this afternoon.

The Wearsiders have slipped to fourth place in the table following defeats by Manchester United and Derby County. But Sorensen believes that, with a little luck, Peter Reid's men can bounce back against the in-form Reds.

"We are a match for anyone at the Stadium of Light. Everyone is fired up and I am sure it will be a good performance," said the giant keeper.

"This is another big game for us and we are all looking forward to it.

"In our last two games - and especially against Manchester United - we were very unlucky not to get something.

"We fought hard against Derby but it was a difficult game and we seemed a bit tired after the Manchester United match.

"This is another great chance to bounce back. Hopefully we can win and keep in touch with the leading teams."

Sorensen, however, feels that there has been no dip in confidence after the two defeats.

He insisted: "There is no chance of that happening.

"When you look over the whole season you will lose two games on the trot at some point. Maybe only the likes of Manchester United don't do that, and there is no way will lose our confidence after two setbacks.

"We will just keep working away at it and if we can win two of our next three games we will be right in there again and we will have the chance of staying there for the rest of the season.

"We know there is a long way to go and a lot of tight games still to come."

He knocked down suggestions that the team might be a little more apprehensive after slipping from second place.

He said: "We are still in fourth place so why should we be nervous?

"If you get nervous over this type of situation you shouldn't really be playing at this level.

"We have done so many great things this season and just because of one or two games when we haven't really played badly to lose confidence would not be a good thing."

Liverpool are finding their best form at the moment, but Sorensen believes that Sunderland can handle the situation, especially after their performance in the last home game against Manchester United.

He said: "I think it will be a tight game again, similar to the one with Manchester United.

"I think it will be hard-fought in midfield with not too many chances.

"We know we need to have respect for their front line as well as they have to respect ours - it works both ways."

Sorensen is well aware that England striker Robbie Fowler is back among the goals after returning from injury.

He said: "Robbie Fowler has been back to his best in the last few games and he is a good player among others in the Liverpool side.

"We won't concentrate too much on him or anybody else. We will just take it as a team, try to close them down and make it difficult for them.

"I think it is down to us to win it and in these games you need a little bit of luck."

Sorensen feels that Sunderland's home form could be the key to their European aspirations.

He said: "It is always more important when you play the teams in the top six because if you want a European place those are the teams to beat.

"We have got them all at home except Arsenal and Chelsea, so it is down to ourselves.

"If we don't make it we can only look at ourselves and kick ourselves because our home form should get us there, even though we know it's going to be difficult."

l England winger Steve McManaman has no intention of returning to the Premiership in the foreseeable future, irrespective of what happens to his career with Real Madrid.

The former Liverpool flier has had a mixed time since his move to the Primera Liga. He helped Madrid to Champions Cup glory but was then temporarily cast aside by the kings of Europe before fighting his way back from the fringes of the first-team squad.

From his new position of strength, though, McManaman said: ''I did say that if it came to Christmas and I was not in the team or travelling with the squad I would rethink the future.

''But I thought that if the worst came to the worst I would play in another country rather than the Premiership.''

He added on Radio 5 Live: ''Now I just want to stay here. If I had been here two or three years it might be different but one year after playing in the Premiership there is no way I would want to go back."