Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson could return to the squad after shaking off a hamstring problem.Dwight Yorke is out with a calf injury, while new £4m signing Andy Reid is recovering from a knee problem, but Michael Chopra returns from suspension.
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BIG-MATCH FACTS
Liverpool have not won in five league games, and are on their longest mid-season winless sequence in the Premier League since Gerard Houllier's side went 11 without victory between 9 November 2002 and 11 January 2003.
The Merseysiders are all but out of the title running, which was their priority at the beginning of the season, and three places and three points outside a top four Champions League spot, but will see this game as an excellent change to get back on track as Sunderland have only gained two points on the road this season.
Liverpool have only won two of six home Premier League matches against Sunderland; the Black Cats are chasing a 50th league victory over the Reds from their 150th meeting in a major competitive match.
CLUB FORM
LIVERPOOL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 4thLowest could realistically fall: 8th
1. Wednesday's late, late 1-0 defeat, away to West Ham ended a nine-match undefeated run in league and cup.
2. Drawn four and lost one of the last five Premier League matches since beating Derby 1-2 away on Boxing Day.
2. The Premier League's joint draw specialists with Fulham; both have finished level on 10 occasions.
4. Lost just three Premier League games; only Arsenal have been beaten less often (once). Also, conceded 16 Premier League goals at one every 122 minutes (two hours two minutes); only Manchester United (11 conceded) and Chelsea (16) have tighter defences.
5. Need a victory to pass 250 Premier League points under Rafael Benitez; on 248 at present.
7. Picked up 30 cards in Premier League competition (all yellow); only Everton have a smaller tally (28, three red and 25 yellow).
8. Their 23 matches have yielded 54 goals (37 for, 17 against); only West Ham's (50) and Chelsea's (53) matches have produced fewer goals.
9. Undefeated in five games at Anfield (all competitions), and not lost in front of the home faithful since the 0-1 reverse by Manchester United on 16 December. The three subsequent home league games have produced one win and two draws.
10. After this it's the big match-up with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Then the FA Cup fifth round clash with Barnsley of the Championship at Anfield and the Champions League match, home to Inter Milan.
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LIVERPOOL
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 4thLowest could realistically fall: 8th
1. Wednesday's late, late 1-0 defeat, away to West Ham ended a nine-match undefeated run in league and cup.
2. Drawn four and lost one of the last five Premier League matches since beating Derby 1-2 away on Boxing Day.
2. The Premier League's joint draw specialists with Fulham; both have finished level on 10 occasions.
4. Lost just three Premier League games; only Arsenal have been beaten less often (once). Also, conceded 16 Premier League goals at one every 122 minutes (two hours two minutes); only Manchester United (11 conceded) and Chelsea (16) have tighter defences.
5. Need a victory to pass 250 Premier League points under Rafael Benitez; on 248 at present.
7. Picked up 30 cards in Premier League competition (all yellow); only Everton have a smaller tally (28, three red and 25 yellow).
8. Their 23 matches have yielded 54 goals (37 for, 17 against); only West Ham's (50) and Chelsea's (53) matches have produced fewer goals.
9. Undefeated in five games at Anfield (all competitions), and not lost in front of the home faithful since the 0-1 reverse by Manchester United on 16 December. The three subsequent home league games have produced one win and two draws.
10. After this it's the big match-up with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Then the FA Cup fifth round clash with Barnsley of the Championship at Anfield and the Champions League match, home to Inter Milan.
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SUNDERLAND
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 13thLowest could fall: 18th
1. Alternated between defeat and victory in their last six Premier League matches.
2. Won two of the last three home to Portsmouth and Birmingham, with a defeat away to Spurs sandwiched in between.
3. Completed 40 league games without a goalless league draw; the most recent being home to Crystal Palace on 30 January 2007 in the Championship. Their last in the Premier League was against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 14 April 2006.
5. Scored seven Premier League goals in the last five minutes; only Liverpool and Manchester United can match that.
6. Not lost when taking the initial lead, and not won after conceding the opening goal, Also, won all four league games when a clean sheet has been kept; only Wigan match that.
7. One of five clubs still searching for a first away win in this Premier League campaign, and one of two to have lost as many as 10 on the road; the other is Derby.
8. Not won away from home in the Premier League in 21 trips since their 0-1 triumph over West Brom at the Hawthorns on 21 January 2006.
9. Lost the last eight away Premier League games, against Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea, Reading, Blackburn and Tottenham.
10. Following this it's a meeting with Wigan at the Stadium of Light, a long journey to Portsmouth and a trip to almost relegated Derby.
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 13thLowest could fall: 18th
1. Alternated between defeat and victory in their last six Premier League matches.
2. Won two of the last three home to Portsmouth and Birmingham, with a defeat away to Spurs sandwiched in between.
3. Completed 40 league games without a goalless league draw; the most recent being home to Crystal Palace on 30 January 2007 in the Championship. Their last in the Premier League was against Manchester United at Old Trafford on 14 April 2006.
5. Scored seven Premier League goals in the last five minutes; only Liverpool and Manchester United can match that.
6. Not lost when taking the initial lead, and not won after conceding the opening goal, Also, won all four league games when a clean sheet has been kept; only Wigan match that.
7. One of five clubs still searching for a first away win in this Premier League campaign, and one of two to have lost as many as 10 on the road; the other is Derby.
8. Not won away from home in the Premier League in 21 trips since their 0-1 triumph over West Brom at the Hawthorns on 21 January 2006.
9. Lost the last eight away Premier League games, against Arsenal, West Ham, Manchester City, Everton, Chelsea, Reading, Blackburn and Tottenham.
10. Following this it's a meeting with Wigan at the Stadium of Light, a long journey to Portsmouth and a trip to almost relegated Derby.
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KEY PLAYER NOTES
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 17 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 11.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Xabi ALONSO will be making his 150th appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
LIVERPOOL
Fernando TORRES is Liverpool's top scorer with 17 goals, and their leading marksman in the Premier League with 11.
Goalkeeper Jose REINA is the only remaining player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Liverpool's Premier League matches this season.
If selected:-
Xabi ALONSO will be making his 150th appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
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SUNDERLAND
Kenwyne JONES is Sunderland's top scorer with five Premier League goals.
Michael CHOPRA is a double shy of 50 career league goals (Newcastle, Watford, Barnsley, Cardiff and Sunderland).
Last season's top scorer David CONNOLLY needs one goal to total 100 in his league career (Watford, Wolves, Wimbledon, West Ham, Leicester, Wigan and Sunderland).
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SUNDERLAND
Kenwyne JONES is Sunderland's top scorer with five Premier League goals.
Michael CHOPRA is a double shy of 50 career league goals (Newcastle, Watford, Barnsley, Cardiff and Sunderland).
Last season's top scorer David CONNOLLY needs one goal to total 100 in his league career (Watford, Wolves, Wimbledon, West Ham, Leicester, Wigan and Sunderland).
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If selected:-
Liam MILLER will be making his 50th league appearance in a Sunderland shirt.
If on the field from the outset:-
Grant LEADBITTER will be making his 50th start for the Black Cats.
Liam MILLER will be making his 50th league appearance in a Sunderland shirt.
If on the field from the outset:-
Grant LEADBITTER will be making his 50th start for the Black Cats.
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HEAD TO HEAD
Liverpool are vying for a fourth successive Premier League victory over Sunderland.
The Reds' only home wins over the Black Cats in this league were 1-0 on 25 November 2001 (Emile Heskey the scorer), and 1-0 on 20 August 2005. On both occasions Liverpool did the double over the Wearsiders and could achieve the feat for a third occasion this time around.
Sunderland have not won at Anfield since a 0-1 top-flight victory on 1 October 1983, when a Gary Rowell penalty secured the points.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 61 wins, Sunderland 49, Draws 31Prem: Liverpool 7 wins, Sunderland 1, Draws 5
at Liverpool onlyLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 34 wins, Sunderland 18, Draws 18Prem: Liverpool 2 winS, Sunderland 0, Draws 4
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HEAD TO HEAD
Liverpool are vying for a fourth successive Premier League victory over Sunderland.
The Reds' only home wins over the Black Cats in this league were 1-0 on 25 November 2001 (Emile Heskey the scorer), and 1-0 on 20 August 2005. On both occasions Liverpool did the double over the Wearsiders and could achieve the feat for a third occasion this time around.
Sunderland have not won at Anfield since a 0-1 top-flight victory on 1 October 1983, when a Gary Rowell penalty secured the points.
Home and awayLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 61 wins, Sunderland 49, Draws 31Prem: Liverpool 7 wins, Sunderland 1, Draws 5
at Liverpool onlyLeague (inc PL): Liverpool 34 wins, Sunderland 18, Draws 18Prem: Liverpool 2 winS, Sunderland 0, Draws 4
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THIS SEASON'S REVERSE FIXTURE
Sunderland 0-2 Liverpool25 August 2007 - Ref: Mark Halsey
Sunderland 0-2 Liverpool25 August 2007 - Ref: Mark Halsey
Liverpool scorers: Sissoko 37, Voronin 87
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