Liverpool make four changes

Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier made four changes to the side that lost to Newcastle for today’s FA Cup game at Maine Road.

Houllier was hoping for an upturn in the clubs’s fortunes after a run of ten games without a victory.

Neil Mellor was handed only his second start of the season and partnered El-Hadji Diouf up front.

Milan Baros had to settle for a place on the bench while Michael Owen and Emile Heskey were still ruled out through injury.

Danny Murphy, Djimi Traore, Vladimir Smicer were all restored to the starting line-up with John Arne Riise, Bruno Cheyrou and Igor Biscan dropping down the order.

City were without defenders Richard Dunne and Steve Howey, the word being they were both suffering from flu.

Gerard Wiekens and Lucien Mettomo were both drafted in for this third-round game.