SUNDERLAND
Gordon
Da Silva Ferdinand Turner McCartney
Malbranque Cana Cattermole Reid
Bent Jones

Kuyt
Benayoun
Riera Mascherano Lucas Babel
Insua Carragher Skrtel Johnson
Reina
LIVERPOOL

Sunderland subs (from): Fulop, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Da Silva, Mensah, Henderson, Zenden, Campbell, Murphy, Healy.
Liverpool subs (from): Agger, Dossena, Aurelio, Voronin, Ngog, Plessis, Spearing, Cavalieri.

SUNDERLAND: They are without the suspended Kieran Richardson - fit-again George McCartney could return at left-back. Lee Cattermole (heel) and John Mensah (calf) are available, while Kenwyne Jones will be assessed following his return from international duty. Midfielder Boudewijn Zenden could figure against his former club.
Suspensions: Richardson 1
Injuries: None
Last five league games: DWLWL
Leading league scorer: Bent 7
Next game: Scunthorpe (a) 20/10/09

LIVERPOOL: Groin injuries rule out Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres. Greek defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos may be out for several months with a serious knee injury also suffered on international duty. Dirk Kuyt is expected to start up front, while South American trio Javier Mascherano, Lucas and Emiliano Insua return in good shape from their international commitments.
Suspensions: None
Injuries: Torres (adductor), Gerrard (groin), Kyrgiakos (knee)
Last five league games: LWWWW
Leading league scorer: Torres 8
Key Player: Dirk Kuyt - much will depend on the Dutchman in the absence of his two more highly-rated team-mates.

Last season: 0-1
League head to head: Sunderland 49, Liverpool 64, Draws 31
Referee: Mike Jones (Chester) G7 Y21 R0 AvL 3.00
Last Sunderland game: vs Stoke (a) 29/8/09 1-0
Odds: H18-5; A4-5; D12-5

It's a fact: Sunderland’s 2-1 win in December 2002 was the first time they had beaten Liverpool on home soil since 1958.
Comment by Paul Fraser: Liverpool are Gerrard and Torres-less and this evening they could well be pointless when they leave Wearside.
Prediction: 2-1