Babel starts for Reds

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was moved back to a more orthodox central midfield role to accommodate the introduction of forward Ryan Babel for the visit of Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League.

Gerrard admitted he had struggled this season and a switch of position could be what the England international needed to rediscover his form.

Babel’s return at the expense of Lucas Leiva was the only change from the side which lost 2-1 at Manchester United a week ago.

Sunderland made two alterations to the side which drew with Aston Villa in midweek with Phil Bardsley and Lorik Cana coming in for Alan Hutton and John Mensah.

Striker Kenwyne Jones, the subject of Liverpool interest in January, was named on the bench having missed the last two matches with a hip injury.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Maxi, Mascherano, Gerrard, Babel, Kuyt, Torres.

Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Benayoun, Kyrgiakos, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar.

Sunderland: Gordon, Bardsley, Turner, Cana, Ferdinand, Campbell, Henderson, Cattermole, Richardson, Malbranque, Bent.

Subs: Carson, Zenden, Jones, Da Silva, Kilgallon, Mwaruwari, Liddle.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)