Reds welcome back Spearing

Midfielder Jay Spearing returns to Liverpool’s squad for the St Stephen's Day match at home to Blackburn after serving a three-match suspension.

The 23-year-old provides the defensive option in central midfield but the Reds’ problems lie further upfield, which may mean forward Craig Bellamy earns a recall against his former club having been left out against Wigan on Wednesday.

Captain Steven Gerrard is training and is edging closer to a first-team return after two months out.

Provisional squad: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Enrique, Kuyt, Adam, Henderson, Spearing, Downing, Suarez, Rodriguez, Doni, Kelly, Carragher, Coates, Shelvey, Bellamy, Carroll.