Hyypia out for Reds

Liverpool will be without defender Sami Hyypia for the home Premier League game with Middlesbrough after the veteran picked up a hamstring injury playing for Finland in midweek.

But boss Rafael Benitez will have Dutch winger Ryan Babel back in the squad now he has returned from the Olympics.

Both Argentina captain Javier Mascherano and Brazilian midfielder Lucas will also return to Merseyside next week.

Lucas was part of the Brazil side which won the bronze medal in Beijing after defeating Belgium today while Mascherano figures in the Olympic final against Nigeria tomorrow.

Liverpool provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Dossena, Benayoun, Gerrard, Alonso, Plessis, Kuyt, Aurelio, Keane, El Zhar, Torres, Cavalieri, Ngog, Skrtel, Babel.