LIVERPOOL Reserves will host table-topping Sunderland with hope in their hearts at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Tuesday, kick off 7pm.

Gary Ablett’s champion team, second from bottom of Barclays Premier Reserve League North, performed well in a 2-0 friendly success against a strong Preston North End XI at Liverpool Academy three days before Christmas.

And, after only two wins and two draws from 10 league games so far, they will be hoping to carry their latest performance into 2009 and get their campaign back on track.

Reds lost their first game in nearly a year when they fell 2-1 at Sunderland in September and it has been mostly downhill since then with only a win against Wigan to celebrate.