Gerrard and Alonso out for Reds

Liverpool will be without skipper Steven Gerrard and fellow midfielder Xabi Alonso for Sunday’s home game with Manchester City.

Gerrard has not recovered fully from a hamstring injury while Alonso is serving a one-match suspension. Liverpool will decide on Monday whether Gerrard can be considered for Wednesday’s Champions League visit to Real Madrid.

Lucas returns from a ban while Dirk Kuyt and Fernando Torres are likely to be in the starting line-up, having been only used as late substitutes in the win at Portsmouth a fortnight ago.

Provisional squad: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Hyypia, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio, Dossena, Babel, Benayoun, Mascherano, Lucas, Riera, Torres, Kuyt, Ngog, Cavalieri, Spearing, El Zhar.