Skrtel and Borini start for Reds

Defender Martin Skrtel returned for Liverpool at West Ham after recovering from a knee injury.

Skrtel took the place of Mamadou Sakho after missing three matches, while Lucas and Fabio Borini also came into the team following the midweek Champions League win over Ludogorets.

Alex Song made his first start in place of Mauro Zarate for West Ham, who had lost four of their last five Premier League matches at home entering the contest.

West Ham: Adrian, Demel, Reid, Tomkins, Cresswell, Noble, Kouyate, Song, Downing, Sakho, Valencia.

Subs: Zarate, Vaz Te, Jenkinson, Collins, Amalfitano, Jaaskelainen, Cole.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Henderson, Lucas, Sterling, Borini, Balotelli.

Subs: Brad Jones, Jose Enrique, Toure, Lambert, Sakho, Lallana, Markovic.

Referee: Craig Pawson (South Yorkshire)