Gerrard returns as Kelly falls foul of injury

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to return to the starting line-up for the Barclays Premier League visit of Blackpool on Sunday.

The midfielder was rested for yesterday’s Europa League goalless draw in Utrecht and manager Roy Hodgson will hope he can inject some much-needed creativity against the Seasiders.

There is a problem at left-back as Paul Konchesky (hamstring) and Fabio Aurelio (Achilles) are still injured while usual stand-in Daniel Agger has a groin problem which saw him miss the trip to Holland.

Left-back appears to be a jinx at Liverpool after Martin Kelly became the fourth player used in the position to fall foul of injury.

The 20-year-old is technically a centre-half but has filled in at right-back and did not look particularly comfortable on the left in Holland.

However, he has now sustained a knee problem and is a doubt to recover in time to face Blackpool at Anfield on Sunday.

If he does not, manager Roy Hodgson could turn to Danny Wilson, another central defender, who became the fifth player to be fielded in the position in the Carling Cup defeat to League Two Northampton last week.

With 17-year-old Jack Robinson, who only made his Barclays Premier League debut at Hull on the final day of last season, unlikely to be risked it leaves Liverpool short of options.

Jamie Carragher could assume a role he has not played for several years, with Sotirios Kyrgiakos coming into central defence but Hodgson is hoping Kelly recovers.

“He has got a slight problem with his knee so that could be another left-back out for us,” Hodgson said.

“I don’t know how bad that is so we’ll have to wait and see.

“On the positive side though Steven Gerrard will be back and we’ll be raring to go on Sunday.”

Provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Kelly, Meireles, Gerrard, Poulsen, Cole, Kuyt, Torres, Jones, Kyrgiakos, Babel, Pacheco, Ngog, Lucas, Rodriguez, Jovanovic.