Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson insists he made the right decision in leaving Sunderland this summer.
The 21-year-old midfielder, who moved to Anfield for £16m in June, will be watched by a host of Sunderland-supporting family and friends.
But he said: "I have to treat it like any other game.
"I felt the time was right to move to a massive club like Liverpool and play with players like Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez. They will help my career along."
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce defended the sale of Henderson, saying: "We might have lost an individual, but it's enabled me to go and get five or six players, which makes us stronger in depth. It doesn't matter what club you are, sometimes you have to make those decisions."
