Spearing makes league debut for Liverpool

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has made wholesale changes for this afternoon’s Premier League trip to Sunderland in the midst of a selection crisis.

With Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both sidelined by groin injuries and Javier Mascherano suffering the after-effects of his World Cup exploits with Argentina, Benitez has to turn to other options.

Mascherano, Emiliano Insua and Albert Riera drop to the bench as Daniel Agger, Fabio Aurelio, Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel and, making his league debut for the club, 20-year-old midfielder Jay Spearing comes in.

Sunderland manager Steve Bruce makes only one change to the side which drew 2-2 at Manchester United last time out as George McCartney replaces the suspended Kieran Richardson.

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Turner, Ferdinand, McCartney, Malbranque, Cana, Cattermole, Reid, Bent, Jones.

Subs: Fulop, Nosworthy, Zenden, Campbell, Henderson, Da Silva, Healy.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Carragher, Babel, Lucas, Aurelio, Spearing, Benayoun, Kuyt.

Subs: Cavalieri, Voronin, Riera, Mascherano, Insua, Ngog, Kelly.

Referee: Mike Jones