Sunderland boss Roy Keane has warned his players not to be fooled by the hype surrounding Liverpool's difficulties.

The Black Cats head for Anfield still looking for their first away win of the season and with their fans hoping they can take advantage of any unrest on Merseyside.

Rafael Benitez's side were pilloried for their FA Cup fourth-round scare at the hands of minnows Havant and Waterlooville last weekend.

In addition, a midweek defeat at West Ham put a further dent in their Champions League qualification hopes, and continuing speculation over the club's ownership have piled on the pressure.

However, Keane is having none of it.

Asked about the FA Cup game, he said: "They won the game 5-2. My God, they are still in the cup; we are not.

"I would like to be still in the cup - and don't be surprised if Liverpool win the FA Cup this year.

"You get frights along the way, but as long as you get through the fright...we didn't, we lost 3-0.

"He (Benitez) might be thinking it is a good game for them. We have not won away all season, they will be rubbing their hands on the back of a defeat.

"They will be ready for us, don't worry. Rafael Benitez will not be losing too much sleep about us."

Sunderland have collected only two points from a possible 36 on the road to date this season, a return which has significantly increased the pressure upon them to win their home games.

That is something they have managed to do with increasing regularity - they have won four of their last six at the Stadium of Light - to give themselves a chance of surviving in the top flight.

Tuesday night's 2-0 victory over fellow strugglers Birmingham saw them lift themselves to the relative safety of 14th place, and while Keane is only too well aware of how quickly that situation could change, he remains confident.

He said: "I was always confident we were going to have a good season, and I still believe that.

"That's not just going off the result the other night. Listen, if we have a bad result tomorrow and the other teams win, we are back down there.

"On one hand, I have not been too low over the last few weeks, and I certainly have not been as high as a kite for the last few days because you cannot do that in football.

"You have got to get the balance right. We got a good result the other night, we played well and the lads, as usual, showed a great attitude.

"I do feel we are going to have a decent season, but the proof is always in the pudding, and that's doing it on a match day - and you cannot have many bigger tests than going to Anfield.

"It's a great challenge for the players we have."

New £4million signing Andy Reid will not figure as he recovers from a knee injury, but Michael Chopra is available after suspension.

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