Banned pair sidelined; O'Shea expected to play for Black Cats

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill will be without suspended duo Lee Cattermole and Stephane Sessegnon for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Midfielder Cattermole starts a four-match ban after being sent off at the end of last Sunday’s 1-1 derby draw at Newcastle during which striker Sessegnon, who will sit out three games, was red-carded for elbowing Cheick Tiote.

Full-back Kieran Richardson is a major doubt with a calf problem and loan signing Wayne Bridge is standing by, although Republic of Ireland defender John O’Shea is expected to play with a protective cast over a broken bone in his hand and fellow central defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos (heel) could return to contention, but Keiren Westwood (wrist) is still out.

Provisional squad: Mignolet, Gordon, Bardsley, Bridge, O’Shea, Turner, Kilgallon, Kyrgiakos, Lynch, Gardner, Larsson, Elmohamady, McClean, Meyler, Colback, Bendtner, Wickham, Ji, Campbell.