Liverpool face Manchester City

All four of the Liverpool players sent to a Belgrade clinic for unorthodox treatment in an attempt to have them ready for this key Premier League clash with Manchester City failed to make the starting line-up.

Glen Johnson was not even on the substitutes’ bench, where Yossi Benayoun, Albert Riera and Fabio Aurelio were named to start.

Liverpool had Steven Gerrard, Ryan Babel and Jamie Carragher – the later after a ban – returning from the side that drew with Birmingham last time out.

Manchester City made one change from the side that were held at home by Burnley a fortnight ago, Nigel De Jong coming into the side in place of Carlos Tevez, who was a substitute.

Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Babel, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Riera, Aurelio, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, El Zhar.

Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Bellamy, Adebayor. Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Johnson, Santa Cruz, Tevez, Kompany, Weiss.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)