Injuries are also mounting up in defence, with Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly likely to be out for another month with hamstring injuries, and Daniel Agger having had his campaign ended by a knee tendon problem sustained in last weekend's defeat at West Brom.
Liverpool finished the game at the Hawthorns with four centre-backs in defence and that could be how they line up at Anfield, with full-back Fabio Aurelio having trained for only a week after a month out with a hamstring strain.
Jay Spearing is likely to continue in central midfield with Gerrard absent, although Jonjo Shelvey is working his way back into contention with an outing for the reserves on Monday after knee surgery in February.
Judgement on Liverpool's £57.8million strikeforce of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez should be reserved for this time next season, according to manager Kenny Dalglish. And anything the pair, who became the club's record signings in the space of just a few hours on January transfer deadline day, produce in the final seven matches of the season should be regarded as a "bonus" said the Scot.
Suarez has already announced his talents with two goals and a virtuoso performance in last month's 3-1 win at home to Manchester United. Carroll, whose Reds debut was delayed by a thigh injury sustained in late December while still at Newcastle, has shown glimpses of his potential but he is not yet fully fit.
Dalglish has always insisted the pair were bought for the long-term good of the club and that they could not be expected to transform Liverpool's fortunes in the latter stages of this season. However, he believes in 12 months' time the picture will be vastly different.
"Anything we get out of them this season will be a real bonus," said Dalglish. It is good to see them getting an opportunity to play together and get an understanding and we will keep working on that. But this time next year would be the better time to judge that when they have had time to settle in."
City defender Pablo Zabaleta returns to the squad against after compassionate leave. Zabaleta returned home to Argentina to visit his father after he was seriously injured in a car crash.
Gareth Barry, James Milner and Edin Dzeko are all pushing for places in the team after being rested on Sunday in the victory over Sunderland. Micah Richards (hamstring) and Jerome Boateng (knee) remain sidelined through injury.
City manager Roberto Mancini believes the club's future is in safe hands. That is why he is backing goalkeeper Joe Hart to go on and become a legend at Eastlands. Hart has grown in stature since replacing experienced Republic of Ireland international Shay Given as number one at the start of the season.
Since then the 23-year-old has not only become established in the team but also become England manager Fabio Capello's first choice. It is a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the former Shrewsbury shot-stopper, who arrived at City in May 2006. He has kicked on this season after spending the last campaign on loan to Barclays Premier League rivals Birmingham.
Hart has been ever-present in the top flight, playing in all 31 games, and aims to improve that record tomorrow when they face Liverpool at Anfield. Not only that he lies top of the Barclays Premier League clean sheets list with 14 to his credit. While Mancini is delighted with Hart's progress he insists there is much more to come from the player.
Mancini said: "It was very difficult for me at the start of the season when I had to decide who to pick because we had two fantastic goalkeepers. The reason I picked Joe was I felt he could become the best goalkeeper in England - and he has.
"But he is young. It is only his second season in Barclays Premier League. He can improve a lot. He can be the best goalkeeper here for a long time."
Mancini again faces a dilemma at right-back as Richards and Boateng are both injured. Belgian rookie Dedryck Boyata was drafted in for his first Premier League start since October in the 5-0 victory against Sunderland but Pablo Zabaleta could be preferred after returning to the club following compassionate leave.
According to Boyata's fellow countryman Vincent Kompany, the 20-year-old has the ability to succeed at the top level of the English game. Kompany said: "He is someone we can rely on and we believe will become a great player for the club."
Source: DSG
