Liverpool welcome Sunderland to Anfield as the underfire club look to bounce back from their midweek Carling Cup debacle against League Two side Northampton.

So, Dirk Kuyt returns from his shoulder injury a little earlier than expected to take his place in the starting line-up ahead of Maxi Rodriguez.

Liverpool head into today's game in 16th place, already 10 points behind leaders Chelsea. Today's opponents Sunderland are in 11th, just a point ahead.

Paul Parker thinks that Sunderland could take full advantage of Liverpool's current woes today and maybe even get a win at Anfield.

The teams are in.... LIVERPOOL: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Konchesky, Poulsen, Gerrard, Kuyt, Meireles, Cole, Torres. Subs: Jones, Agger, Jovanovic, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Lucas, Ngog /// SUNDERLAND: Mignolet, Onuoha, Turner, Bramble, Bardsley, Elmohamady, Henderson, Cattermole, Malbranque, Welbeck, Bent. Subs: Gordon, Zenden, Da Silva, Riveros, Reid, Colback, Gyan

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson may only have been brought in over the summer, but already he finds himself in the firing line, if you believe some reports in the papers over the past few days since that penalty shootout defeat on Wednesday.