Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana is a doubt for Sunderland match
Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana remains a doubt for the visit of Sunderland.
The England player injured a groin on international duty on November 15 and missed last week's goalless draw at former club Southampton.
Defender Joe Gomez made his return to competitive action for the under-23s in midweek after 13 months out with a knee injury but it is too early for him to be considered for first-team selection.
Despite Sunderland's struggles this season Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is under no illusions about the difficulty of the task ahead despite his side scoring 19 times in six games at Anfield this season.
"It's like the points are already on the counter and we couldn't be further away from having the points already," he said.
"We will not underestimate them, 100 per cent not. If one person in the stadium underestimates them it would be the first mistake we could make.
"They (Sunderland) have not the highest amount of possession so that shows they are a counter-attacking team.
"But they don't only make counter-attacks, they have other strengths too with set-pieces.
"The funny thing is that after the draw (last weekend) it started again with the 'parking the bus' team thing but Southampton are not a 'parking the bus team'.
"It was a team which we forced to defend deeper and that can happen against any team.
"So I am excited about having the chance again to show we are still there and still in good shape and use this opportunity to fight for the result."
Sunderland boss David Moyes will be forced to make changes at Anfield.
Paddy McNair has been ruled out for the rest of the season after rupturing his cruciate ligament in last week's win over Hull, while Papy Djilobodji is suspended after being sent off in the same game.
John O'Shea and Steven Pienaar are in line to return to the starting line-up but Lee Cattermole (hip), Fabio Borini (groin), Sebastian Larsson (knee), Jan Kirchhoff and Jack Rodwell (both hamstring) are still out.
Moyes, formerly of Everton and Manchester United, returns to his bogey ground on Saturday where he has drawn seven and lost six of his last 13 visits.
The pressure on his side significantly eased after successive wins against Bournemouth and Hull in recent weeks, but he is also under no illusions about what will constitute a good result for his re-shuffled side.
"I think you have to go there and park the double decker bus," added Moyes. "I think anybody who plays against Liverpool has to park the double decker bus.
"But we will hopefully have two centre-forwards like we've got at the moment scoring goals at the other end of the pitch as well. I don't think you can kid yourself - they (Liverpool) are in good form and are a good team."
Source: PAR
