Gerrard back in starting lineup

Liverpool v Blackpool

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard returned to the starting line-up as expected for the Barclays Premier League visit of Blackpool.

The midfielder was rested for the midweek Europa League trip to Utrecht and came in for Lucas Leiva as the Reds looked to lift themselves out of the bottom three with only their second league win of the season.

Manager Roy Hodgson tried to solve the problem at left-back, where he has three candidates injured, by moving Jamie Carragher out of the centre and bringing in Sotirios Kyrgiakos with Martin Kelly dropping to the bench.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway made two changes from last weekend’s defeat to Blackburn, replacing Marlon Harewood and Brett Ormerod with Luke Varney and Elliot Grandin.

Teams:

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Kyrgiakos, Skrtel, Carragher, Poulsen, Meireles, Kuyt, Gerrard, Cole, Torres.

Blackpool: Gilks, Eardley, Evatt, Cathcart, Crainey, Vaughan, Adam, Campbell, Grandin, Varney, Taylor-Fletcher.