Dalglish makes three changes for Blackpool clash

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has given Christian Poulsen his first Barclays Premier League appearance for nearly two months to fill the hole left by suspended captain Steven Gerrard against Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.

Dalglish, in his first league match in charge of the Reds since replacing Roy Hodgson at the weekend, has also handed Milan Jovanovic his first domestic start since September 12.

Defender Glen Johnson – whose wife gave birth to a boy last night – is the third change from the side which exited the FA Cup against Manchester United on Sunday, with Gerrard banned, Fabio Aurelio rested and Maxi Rodriguez dropped to the bench.

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway, who made nine changes for their FA Cup defeat at Southampton, has gone with what was his recognised league side.

Elliot Grandin ios the only change to the team which lost at Birmingham in their last league match on January 4, with Matt Phillips missing out.

Blackpool: Kingson, Eardley, Cathcart, Evatt, Crainey, Grandin, Adam, Vaughan, Taylor-Fletcher, Campbell, Varney. Subs: Rachubka, Southern, Ormerod, Baptiste, Euell, Sylvestre, Phillips.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Kelly, Meireles, Poulsen, Lucas, Jovanovic, Torres, Kuyt. Subs: Gulacsi, Konchesky, Kyrgiakos, Maxi, Wilson, Ngog, Shelvey.