Carroll makes first matchday squad appearance for Reds

Liverpool’s club record signing Andy Carroll made his first appearance in the matchday squad after being named among the substitutes for the visit of arch-rivals Manchester United.

The 22-year-old has not played since December 28 and completed his £35m transfer, a record fee for a British player, from Newcastle in January while still recovering from a thigh injury.

But after two months on the sidelines, manager Kenny Dalglish believes the England international is now fit enough for a place on the bench.

The two changes from last Sunday’s defeat at West Ham saw defender Fabio Aurelio replace the injured Martin Kelly, with Glen Johnson switching to his usual right side, and Maxi Rodriguez come in for Danny Wilson.

Pre-match rumours of a groin injury to Steven Gerrard in training proved unfounded as he retained his place in the starting line-up.

United winger Ryan Giggs returned to the visitors’ line-up, thereby breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s club record of 606 league appearances.

With Rio Ferdinand injured and Nemanja Vidic suspended, Wes Brown made only his third Barclays Premier League start of the season alongside Chris Smalling.

The two other changes from the midweek defeat at Chelsea saw Dimitar Berbatov, scorer of a match-winning hat-trick against Liverpool in the league encounter at Old Trafford, and Rafael come in.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Gerrard, Lucas, Kuyt, Meireles, Maxi, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Carroll, Cole, Kyrgiakos, Ngog, Spearing, Poulsen.

Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Smalling, Brown, Evra, Nani, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Kuszczak, Hernandez, Fabio Da Silva, O’Shea, Fletcher, Obertan, Gibson.

Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)