Benitez to shuffle pack

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is likely to shuffle his side for the trip to bottom club Derby on St Stephen's Day with a tough away trip to fourth-placed Manchester City on the horizon next Sunday.

Benitez has already made 223 alterations to his sides this season, on a match-to-match basis, and used 77 substitutions, making it a remarkable 300 changes in player personal in 28 matches so far.

And there will be more of the same at Pride Park, with Ryan Babel, Andriy Voronin, Fabio Aurelio and Lucas all in the running for a starting berth. Youngster Jack Hobbs could also get another run-out in defence while Xabi Alonso could also continue his comeback from injury.

Provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hobbs, Hyypia, Riise, Aurelio, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Kewell, Babel, Lucas, Sissoko, Crouch, Kuyt, Torres, Voronin, Itandje.