FOR the first time under Steve Bruce’s management there is expected to be a nearcapacity crowd at the Stadium of Light this afternoon, when the Sunderland boss will call on his players to live up to rapidly-increasing expectations.

Bruce may have only been in the manager’s office on a full-time basis at the Wearside outfit for four months, but he identified a lack of character within previous Sunderland teams when faced with the big occasion.

Liverpool’s arrival this afternoon represents exactly that, even if both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have been ruled out through injury by manager Rafael Benitez.

And with around 48,000 expected to witness the match inside the stadium, Bruce is well aware of an opportunity to show to some of the club’s returning fans that this is a different time, a different era at Sunderland.

Gone are the days of financial struggle and, Bruce hopes to prove, gone are the days of struggling to stay in the Premier League.

Now he has challenged his team to show they are in a position to compete with another of the division’s best, just two weeks after missing out on claiming a win at Manchester United by seconds.

“It is tough up here, I know after coming back how tough it is for a lot of people,” said Bruce, who regularly played in front of that number during his days at Manchester United.

“I am delighted the stadium will be close to 50,000 fans, it should be a terrific atmosphere.

“I hope we can perform in front of them. That’s the big test, because in the past there has been big expectation which this club has not lived up to. We have to go and perform in front of our own supporters.

“Occasions like this have fizzled into a damp squib.

“To get to where Everton and Tottenham are we need a level of performance and level of club which enables you to cope in front of 50,000.

“A team able to cope with Sunderland, the expectation, this is what it is all about in my opinion.

“In the past we have not had the calibre of player to handle the expectation of this club.

Hopefully we are starting, but we are only starting.

“I hope we can because if we can’t then we are not good enough, but there are signs we can.”

Having added former Middlesbrough midfielder Bolo Zenden to his squad yesterday to compete for a place in the middle with Lorik Cana and Lee Cattermole, Bruce feels he is edging closer to formulating the type of squad he wants.

While the draw at Old Trafford heartened and surprised many, it did not surprise Bruce.

He would, though, point to the defeat at Burnley two Premier League matches earlier to highlight where his players need improvement.

“It is the consistency I am looking for but beating Liverpool would be five on the spin at home, which bodes well,” said Bruce.

“My aim is to take the performance of ten days ago at United into Saturday and if we do that we will be delighted.”

A victory for Sunderland today could lift them into the dizzy heights of a Champions League place, an even greater possibility considering Liverpool are going to be without world-class attacking star pair Gerrard and Torres.

If Benitez’s side lose for a fourth time in nine league matches it would pile the pressure on the Spaniard, who failed to end a 19-year title drought last season when they lost just twice.

“I would not say it would kill it off if we won but it is very difficult now for them to win the league,” said Bruce.

“Last season shows the standard, it’s scary isn’t it? In my experience you can only lose four or five in a season.

“If we can beat them, and with quarter of the season gone be above Liverpool, that would be a fantastic start for us.

“It is expected Liverpool will always be at the top end of the table but finishing second or third is not good enough for their fans. They want to win back that title and believe me winning that first one will always be the most difficult.

“None of their team has won it and that’s the most difficult thing, whereas players at Chelsea and Man U have won it lots of times.

“That experience does help you when the pressure comes on, or when big games come about, so you don’t fall by the wayside.”