Liverpool's Meireles misses Rovers clash

Liverpool midfielder Raul Meireles has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Premier League match at Blackburn with an ankle injury.

The Portugal international was forced off in the first half of Saturday’s victory over Bolton, and although the bruising on the bone is not as bad as initially thought he will not feature at Ewood Park.

Steven Gerrard, who played a pivotal role after coming off the bench to replace Meireles, appears the most obvious replacement but manager Roy Hodgson has admitted the likes of the captain and Fernando Torres could be rested in a busy January.

Midfielder Jay Spearing has returned to training after breaking a bone in his ankle in November.

Provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Aurelio, Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt, Rodriguez, Torres, Ngog, Gulacsi, Hansen, Kelly, Kyrgiakos, Konchesky, Poulsen, Cole, Babel.