Agger ready to return for Reds

Daniel Agger returns to the Liverpool squad at Middlesbrough for the first time since he broke a metatarsal bone in September.

The Danish defender saw a reserve run-out against Blackburn on Thursday washed out, but boss Rafael Benitez is convinced the centre-back is ready for a comeback.

Alvaro Arbeloa, Jose Reina, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres – who all missed the FA Cup draw at Luton – will also return.

Benitez will take new £6.5m defender Martin Skrtel to the Riverside, but the Slovakia international – whose transfer from Zenit St Petersburg was confirmed today – is unlikely to be involved.

Provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Riise, Pennant, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Babel, Lucas, Voronin, Kuyt, Torres, Crouch, Benayoun, Kewell, Skrtel, Itandje.