Mark Atkinson has pinpointed the ‘embarrassment’ inflicted on his team by Everton as the inspiration behind their current run of form.
Sunderland under-18s have moved up to sixth in the Premier League last weekend, following back-to-back victories in recent weeks.
Wins at both West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United have seen the lads soar up the table, as they have collected four wins in their previous five matches.
And with Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool standing in the young Black Cats’ way of making it four straight wins in all competitions, Atkinson is keen to ramp his side’s game up another notch.
“We have set ourselves high standards over the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“The challenge is now for the players to maintain those standards and try to maintain those performances.
“If you are performing well then the results tend to take care of themselves.
“The main thing is that we are trying to maintain the high standards that we have set ourselves over the last four or five weeks.
“We have changed a lot since the Everton game,” he continued.
“The players hurt a lot after that game and they were embarrassed. Ultimately, they don’t want to feel it ever again.
“Since then, they have been a lot more focused and they have done the nasty side of the game more and they have earned the right to play.
“The quality has been very good over recent weeks but first and foremost they have earned the right by working hard off the ball.
“That has been the biggest thing that’s changed, and it must continue at Liverpool.”
