Gus Poyet has admitted that Sunderland have missed Fabio Borini's quality after his heroics on loan last season.
The Liverpool forward struck 10 Premier League goals in helping the Black Cats preserve their top-flight status after coming perilously close to relegation last term.
The move looked poised to be made permanent after the Reds accepted a £14m summer bid, but the Italian snubbed the switch in favour of staying on Merseyside.
Borini could line up against his former club at Anfield this afternoon, and Poyet says that Sunderland - who have scored just 13 times this season - have missed what the 23-year-old offered them.
"Goals are very expensive so we have missed him a lot," the Uruguayan told the Daily Mail.
"I think we are learning now but the higher you go there are some players when you know them well they become a little bit more expensive.
"When you know a player and you know what you are going to get in any division it makes a difference."
On Friday, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers claimed that Borini - who has started one Premier League game this season - did not regret his decision to reject a permanent move.
Shane Callaghan
