Match Preview: Sunderland vs Liverpool

Managerless Sunderland play host to Liverpool at the Stadium of Light, live on Super Sunday, still seeking their first Premier League win of the season.

Kevin Ball takes charge of his first Premier League game as Sunderland caretaker boss following the sacking of Paolo Di Canio last Sunday.

Di Canio was axed last week 24 hours after the 3-0 defeat to West Brom left the Wearside club rooted to the bottom of the table.

Sunderland have just one point from their first five league outings and Ball will be hoping to boost his chances of landing the manager's job on a permanent basis with a positive result against Liverpool.

Liverpool travel to Wearside aiming to get back to winning ways after two straight defeats to Southampton in the Premier League and Manchester United in the Capital One Cup.

The gloss to Liverpool's impressive start to the season has been taken off in the last few weeks and Brendan Rodgers will be keen to see them get back to winning ways at the Stadium of Light as they strive to keep pace with the leading pack.

Sunderland will be without star striker Steven Fletcher after he injured his shoulder in last weekend's defeat to West Brom.

It means Jozy Altidore is expected to lead the attack and he could be supported by Emanuele Giaccherini, who scored in the midweek Capital One Cup win over Peterborough.

Defensive duo Wes Brown (calf) and Phil Bardsley (foot) remain sidelined as they work their way back to fitness.

Fabio Borini is ineligible to play against his parent club after joining Sunderland from Liverpool on transfer deadline day.

Lee Cattermole made his first start of the season against Peterborough and he could keep his place in midfield.

Luis Suarez is set to start his first Premier League game after coming through his return from suspension against Manchester United unscathed.

The Uruguay international played the full 90 minutes in midweek after serving his 10-match ban for his bite on Branislav Ivanovic and he is expected to keep his place in Rodgers' starting XI.

Rodgers is waiting on the fitness of vice-captain Daniel Agger after he missed the defeat at Old Trafford with a knock.

Full-back duo Glen Johnson and Aly Cissokho remain on the sidelines through injury meaning Rodgers has a decision to make whether to stick to his 3-5-2 formation he played against Manchester United.

Brazilian playmaker Philippe Coutinho is out after undergoing shoulder surgery last week, while two former Sunderland stars Simon Mignolet and Jordan Henderson are set to face their old club.

Mignolet Aware Of Revived Sunderland

Having recently completed a degree studying 20th century socialism, one might imagine Simon Mignolet joining in the applause at the demise of the politically provocative Paolo Di Canio at his former club Sunderland.

Instead, the Liverpool goalkeeper has only positive memories of his brief spell with the combustible Italian, recalling the galvanising effect the manager's arrival had at the Stadium of Light as the club fought relegation last spring.

Mignolet was also in the Sunderland side when Martin O’Neill – another coach he holds in affection – made the same short-term impact on his appointment a year earlier.

So the Belgian knows what is coming for Liverpool in the North East on Sunday, with Sunderland often finding their best form with a change of manager.

“If a new manager comes in, then every single player inside that dressing room wants to perform well and show what they are capable of. That is mostly what happened,” says Mignolet. “When a Premier League team decides to sack their manager, it is for that kind of response. From an opposition point of view you just don’t know what to expect. When it is your former team you always look closely at it. I am always having half a look over my shoulder to see how they are getting on.

“I still know a lot of players and other people at the club. I was there for three years and it is never nice to see them struggle. You feel for the lads because you know they’re trying to do the best but it’s obviously not going for them and also for the people around the place. If you’re a masseur or a physio or in any job, if you’re there and it goes against you, then it’s obviously not a nice environment to be in.”

Di Canio’s sacking after a players’ revolt suggested Mignolet left a flammable environment when he moved to Anfield, but he says the tension must have rapidly developed after he left.

“I had a good relationship with him. I never had a bust-up with him,” he says. “The first two weeks when he came he observed a lot. After a couple of days he changed a few little things and we had two massive results against Newcastle and Everton and got ourselves safe for the next season. So for me he was a good manager to work with.”

Life at Liverpool seems serene by comparison, although there is always a gentle simmering at Anfield when you lose consecutive games.

While questions are starting to be asked about the quality of some of Liverpool’s signings, Mignolet is unequivocally the most successful of the summer.

“He will be the best signing of the season and worth 10 points this year,” a senior Liverpool figure said once the £9 million deal had been struck. The confidence, thus far, is justified. Mignolet can already claim a heavy assist in six of the 10 the club’s 10 points to date.

It is to his credit that, after a few days of anxiety when Pepe Reina was loaned to Napoli to enable Mignolet to be number one, no one has since queried the merits of the decision.

It is easy to see why Mignolet provokes such certainty that he will succeed, given his quietly authoritative manner and studiousness on and off the park. There cannot be many modern players who have completed a degree while becoming an established international.

“I finished the degree last season. It’s political science,” explained Mignolet. “I don’t really like to say it’s politics, everybody’s going to say ‘he’s going to be a politician’, which is not true.”

So plenty of theoretical discourses with Di Canio, then? “No, no, no! I’m obviously interested in history, that kind of stuff, but I’m never going to be a politician after my football career. I started the course when I was in Belgium. My parents wanted me to have something behind me in case something went wrong, say an injury. When I arrived in England I had to finish six more courses.”

Mignolet has made an equally impressive start to his latest assignment – joining the ranks of Liverpool’s great goalkeepers.

Rodgers Plays Down Second-Half Stat

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is not worried about his side's second-half form this season.

The Reds have not scored after half-time in the Barclays Premier League since May 12 at Fulham, and that has contributed to them dropping four points in their last two matches - against Swansea and Southampton.

And, while Rodgers cannot explain why they have not scored any later than the 37th minute, he is not reading anything into the statistic.

"It is well documented we haven't scored a goal (in the second half) and sometimes that trend surprises you when you hear that," he said.

"Probably in some of the games in the second half we have sat a bit deeper and have seen out the results, but Swansea we didn't.

"It doesn't concern me. It is something we will work on.

"As the game (the 1-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Manchester United) went on the other night, I thought we were going to get that goal, but I can't say I'm overly concerned."

Rodgers is certain, however, it is not a fatigue issue.

"We have obviously had players who have come back and were gaining fitness," he said.

"Overall, the condition the team is in is very good.

"Sometimes it (not scoring) is just how it rolls out in the early part of the season, and for us we just need to keep working.

"Throughout the team we had good performances the other night. We just need to keep believing, keep our confidence and the wins will come."

Defensive lapses at corners have resulted in two single-goal defeats in their last two outings, and Rodgers knows that has to improve, although overall he does not see a great deal wrong with their displays.

"I think the performance against Southampton wasn't so good. We weren't as proactive in the games as we normally were," he added.

"I thought our performance at Old Trafford was excellent. The only negative was we conceded a very poor goal from a corner, but apart from that I saw a lot of the characteristics from the team that I would want.

"Our passing was good, the speed of our game was crisp. We sit (fifth) in the league on the same number of points as Manchester City and Chelsea and we are very determined to continue with a very good run in the league at the weekend.

"It (the team) will always be evolving, You can never be satisfied because you are always looking to improve.

"The consistency of the group has been good for the last seven or eight months and we've had very few blips.

"I expect us to rebound back and go again."

Liverpool faces Sunderland, a team rebounding from the sacking of Paolo Di Canio, at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

"There is an upturn you normally find when a manager comes in," he said.

"It is unfortunate Paolo lost his job. They had a victory in the week (in the Capital One Cup) and obviously Kevin Ball (caretaker boss) will go into the game looking for the players to put on a performance again.

"We know the capabilities of Sunderland and I am sure they will come out fighting for a result.

"For us, in order to continue climbing, we are determined to go and win."

Rodgers has been impressed with the performances of Martin Skrtel since his return to the side for the league victory over Manchester United earlier this month following an injury to Kolo Toure.

The Slovakia defender's opportunities appeared limited after the arrivals of Toure and Mamadou Sakho, but he has shown his battling qualities to hold down a regular place for the last four matches.

"I thought he was brilliant the other night. I called him into the office to recognize his performance was excellent," the Northern Irishman said.

"He defended crosses into the box, he was clever in his defending.

"It was great credit to his professionalism when he wasn't in the team he continued to work and was fighting every day to show he could play in the team.

"It was always the case when you got your opportunity you had to grab the shirt and he has done that and played very well."

Asked what had changed for Skrtel, he added: "Maybe before, he was more of a marker in terms of one-versus-one defending. He is a real strong competitor.

"For how we wanted to play, it was that balance between being aggressive and reading the game and the ability to play, and I think he has shown he is a terrific player and that was never in doubt.

"But there were other players here and we needed other characteristics in the team."

Liverpool Boss Wants Pastore

Liverpool are ready to swoop French giants Paris Saint Germain for the services of attacking midfielder Javier Pastore.

The Argentine is supposedly unhappy at life in the French capital following his big money move from Palermo in 2011.

He has failed to impress on a regular basis and has become disillusioned with life sitting on the bench under Laurent Blanc.

His agent Marcelo Simonian, states in the metro that his future at the club could be decided within the next few months.

The news is sure to attract the attentions of boss Brendan Rodgers who is thought to be keen in bringing the playmaker to Anfield.

Rodgers failed to make a big name signing this summer and Pastore was rumoured to have been just one of the players he was looking at.

The 24-year-old would fit into Rodgers style of play naturally having been known to get the ball on the floor and play defence-splitting passes

Liverpool Have Another PSG Player On Radar

Liverpool will be on alert as long term target Jeremy Menez's contract extension with PSG continues to be ignored by the club’s hierarchy. The owners of PSG have recently come out and said they have intentions to keep the player but as yet talks haven’t even started.

Le10 Sport have reported that the French international's contract with the French champions runs out in July 2014 and his representatives have still not been approached by the club to extend his current deal beyond this. In January, Menez will be able to speak to clubs regarding a pre-contract agreement with the possibility that Liverpool could land the winger on a free next summer or at a reduced fee in the winter transfer window. It has been revealed that meetings to discuss his contract haven’t even been set by PSG.

The Daily Star reported in March that Liverpool were lining up a £6m bid for Menez as the player was becoming unsettled in the French capital due to the arrival of Ezequiel Lavezzi and Lucas Moura, Edinson Cavani has also joined this year Their signings have resulted in Menez having less opportunities in the PSG first team. Rodgers will be keen to pick up a player who can play either on the wing or as a forward.

Liverpool have already raided the French club in the in the last few weeks by signing French international defender Mamadou Sakho. The player arrived in Liverpool towards the end of the transfer window after he was experiencing the same issues as his teammate Menez. Due to the influx of players coming into the club Sakho refused to extend his contract which also ran out July 2014. The player was concerned about making the France squad for next year’s World Cup and therefore decided to jump ship and find a new club.

Reina Doesn’t Expect Anfield Return

Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina says it appears unlikely that he will play for the club again.

The Spaniard, currently on loan at Napoli where he has been reunited with former boss Rafa Benitez, does not expect to return to Anfield at the end of the season.

“At the moment it’s difficult to think about being a Liverpool player next year,” Reina told the Daily Mail. “They have a young goalkeeper in Simon Mignolet and the manager prefers him to me.

“That’s the reason why I’m here and he will be at the club next year as well. There’s no reason to think I’ll be a Liverpool player from now on but we’ll see where the future takes us.

“It’s been a good move so far and I don’t regret what happened. I would have preferred to say goodbye in a different way.”

Reina admits he had been happy at Liverpool and was not expecting to go anywhere in the summer.

“It did come as a surprise,” he said. “It was the club (Liverpool) who made the move. I was on my holidays and nobody told me anything.

“Suddenly Napoli called and said they were agreeing terms with Liverpool and Liverpool just rang me two days later and said the same. They probably had their own reasons.”

Rodgers Must Show Progress to Keep Liverpool Job

Ian Ayre, the Liverpool managing director, has warned manager Brendan Rodgers must demonstrate progress to owners Fenway Sports Group in order to keep his job but is not under pressure to end the club's four-year Champions League absence.

Rodgers was appointed in June 2012 and signed a three-year contract with The Reds.

After a difficult start he guided Liverpool to seventh in the Premier League in his opening season - an improvement on the eighth place finish achieved in the previous campaign - and begun his second term with three successive league wins including over champions Manchester United.

The club's number one priority remains qualifying for the Champions League, a competition in which despite being British football's most successful side with five victories, Liverpool haven't featured in since 2009 and have failed in four successive seasons to qualify.

Liverpool have spent upwards of £109m combined in the three transfer windows since Rodgers' move from Swansea City and after retaining wantaway striker Luis Suarez this summer after rejecting two offers from Arsenal, a top four assault is expected.

While admitting playing top tier European football is an ambition for Liverpool, Ayre says Rodgers must provide evidence of evolution in order to remain in the Merseyside hotseat.

"We base Brendan's performance on progress," Ayre said.

"We don't say to him that you have to finish in that position, you've got to achieve this.

"We set a very clear plan with Brendan when he came into the club. We were very clear and had a very open discussion with him about what the club's ambition was and what we wanted him to come in and specifically do and he's moving forward in all those areas.

"As long we keep progressing and we can see he's moving the club towards where it wants to be then he'll be the Liverpool manager.

"It's not about individual positional targets it's about him improving Liverpool football club and our opportunity to get back to where we believe we should be."

Liverpool finished 12 points adrift of the top four last season but signed eight new players during the summer transfer window.

But perhaps the most significant deal of the off-season involved retaining Suarez - a scorer of 30 goals in all competitions last term - who eventually made a u-turn in his wish to leave Liverpool after the club stated he was not for sale.

Following a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic Suarez made his first appearance of the season in the League Cup defeat to United at Old Trafford and Ayre says the primary motivation for keeping the hothead forward, whose career in English football has been littered with controversial moments, was linked to attaining Champions League qualification.

"This football club is the most successful British club in that competition in the European Cup and the Champions League so we absolutely want to and expect to get back there," Ayre, who joined Liverpool in 2007, said.

"Last season we were happy that we improved the group and the squad and we've had a good start and it looks good so far.

"We hired Brendan to change our philosophy and how we play football and to start something that we're all committed to," he added.

"If you're committed to that then someone like Luis Suarez is exactly who you need because of his ability and what he can achieve so it was never our ambition to change that and as I say he's still there and that's the end of it."

Agger And Allen Fitness Update

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers delivered a positive update on the fitness of defender Daniel Agger at his pre-Sunderland press conference at Melwood.

The Denmark international missed the Reds' 1-0 Capital One Cup defeat at Manchester United in midweek after completing almost an hour against Southampton last weekend.

Asked for an injury update, the manager told reporters: "We are what we are from the other night.

"Daniel Agger will hopefully come back into the reckoning; he has trained in the last couple of days. Other than that, it will be more or less the same squad.

"I can only work with the players that I have available. We have got a few injuries and most of them have been unfortunate injuries.

"I can only concentrate on the players we have available now and we'll maximize what we can out of that group. They are working very hard and working well."

Joe Allen will not be involved, however, with the Welshman requiring further recovery time from a hamstring complaint before he becomes available again.

"We felt leading up to the Swansea game that Joe's hamstring was getting better," said Rodgers.

"But he still has a bit of time to go on that. He's obviously working hard with the medical team but he's not fit yet."

The boss was questioned on the fitness of top scorer Daniel Sturridge too and quickly quashed any suggestions that the striker could be rested following the return of Luis Suarez.

"There's no taking him out. With Daniel, we've seen this season that even when he's not 100 per cent fit he's still an amazing player," the Northern Irishman added.

"He's still a player that will put defenders on the back foot. His pace and power is getting up to speed.

"He's a player that is very important for our team. He's a catalyst at the top end and even when he's not at 100 per cent he's still a top player."

Suarez played the whole match at Old Trafford on Wednesday and Rodgers provided two pieces of good news on behalf of the Uruguayan.

He said: "He's fine. He became a father for the second time so he's on top of the world."

Match Report: Man United 1 - 0 Liverpool

Javier Hernandez brought a sense of stability back to Manchester United after a turbulent week by netting the only goal in an absorbing Capital One Cup tie with Liverpool.

Hernandez wriggled away from Jose Enrique to touch home Wayne Rooney's corner.

The Mexican's first goal of the campaign came so early in the second-half, United manager David Moyes had barely got beyond the penalty area in his walk to the home dug-out.

It meant it was easy to spot the Scot's celebration, at a strike that should at least quell some of the angst that built up following that awful hammering at Manchester City four days ago.

United's performance was not perfect.

Indeed, on his return following a 10-match suspension, Luis Suarez came close to levelling when his vicious free-kick struck the bar with David De Gea beaten.

De Gea had only just repelled Victor Moses' powerful diving header.

But the hosts had chances to sew up the contest too, with Simon Mignolet producing a couple of excellent saves to deny Rooney.

And after bravely riding the hefty punches landed on him at the Etihad Stadium, Moyes was probably not that bothered about the actual scoreline anyway, just the much-needed victory against one of England's biggest clubs, and United's greatest rivals.

It was hardly a surprise Suarez should start. After all, when you have spent so long out and are desperately in need of match fitness, there is little to be gained by kicking your heels on the bench watching others do what you are paid so much for.

Perhaps understandably though, the Uruguayan was not quite on top form.

He was caught on his heels slightly when Steven Gerrard rolled an inviting pass into his path, which allowed Rafael to slide back and clear.

And when Enrique's curling cross dropped over Jonny Evans' head, Suarez's first touch was just too long so De Gea was able to slide out to bravely block his second.

He did supply the through ball that ended with Daniel Sturridge toe-poking wide.

Suarez would have also got the assist if Moses had been able to drill his square ball home. Moses didn't get the opportunity though as Ryan Giggs reached it first.

It was all part of an absorbing opening period, notable for the fact neither goalkeeper actually had a shot to save.

As befitting a team that got so badly beaten at the weekend, and containing so many players with so much to prove, United started with intent.

Nani and Shinji Kagawa were particularly lively, whilst stand-in captain Rooney buzzed around with menace.

However, with the exception of a Nani effort that was deflected wide, all that early pressure fizzled out and it wasn't until much later in the half United started to force the pace again.

Yet they did appear to lack conviction, with neither Phil Jones nor Giggs willing to commit fully to attack.

Such tentativeness was perhaps understandable given the hammering meted out at the weekend.

Some kind of relief was required. And it arrived through Hernandez's goal a minute after the re-start.

Liverpool responded to the setback with impressive vigour.

Indeed, they should have been level when United's defence got themselves in a muddle attempting to subdue a joint raid involving Suarez and Sturridge and succeeded only in presenting Jordan Henderson with a shooting chance.

The England man had enough time to do better than merely drag a disappointing shot wide. And he knew it.

Excellent approach play involving Hernandez and Kagawa deserved a better ending than Nani's poor finish too as the second-period delivered the goalmouth action that had been lacking beforehand.

Kagawa, proving exactly why so many United fans were baffled at his lack of action so far this term, saw his dipping effort flick off the bar before play immediately switched to the other end, where Enrique fired wide.

So unhappy was Gerrard with that waste of possession that he very publicly rebuked his team-mate, who kept his head down as he ran back to his defensive station.

It was the prelude to a thrilling finish, in which Moses, Suarez and Rooney, twice, all came close.

In the end though, United held Liverpool at bay for what could turn out to be a very valuable victory for their manager.

Lack Of Concentration Cost Us - Rodgers

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers has praised the effort of his players but rued the momentary lapse which ultimately caused defeat against Manchester United.

Liverpool suffered their second straight defeat of the season on Wednesday night when a sole Javier Hernandez goal was enough to put Manchester United through to the fourth round of the Capital One Cup at Old Trafford.

The visitors had impressive spells throughout the game but couldn't convert any of their chances despite being boosted by the return of star striker Luis Suarez.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Reds manager Brendan Rodgers reflected: "I thought we had good spells in the game where we got into real good areas and probably just the final pass let us down and that final finish, but I've no qualms about the players' effort. I thought they were brilliant in everything they gave to the game.

"We're disappointed with the lack of concentration for the goal and it cost us."

Following criticism of Rodgers' decision to play four central defenders in the 1-0 loss to Southampton on Saturday, the Northern Irishman changed to wingbacks for the encounter but admitted it was a decision largely forced upon him because of the personnel available.

"I've never in my life ever played four centre-halves in any game," explained Rodgers. "Anybody who knows me and knows my work, knows that's not how I would operate. But when you have no choice that's what you've got to do.

"I try to always get as many attackers on the field as I can. I just felt that was a system that suited the players that we have and I thought the players played the system very well - we got numbers forward.

"If we had to play that system again for a period of time until players are fit then, we obviously need to work more on it but it's something that you can see the players are comfortable in.

"It gives us three players to dominate midfield, gives us the two strikers up front that are arguably up there with the top strikers in the league, and it still keeps us secure at the back. If we need to play it again, I think we can play it well."

Rodgers Faces A Dilemma Of His Own Making

Brendan Rodgers may have dealt well with one selection dilemma on Wednesday night, but he faces an even bigger one heading into Sunday's match against Sunderland—and this time, it's of his own making.

Having now lost their last two games and burnt through much of the goodwill fostered by a strong first month, Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers find themselves facing something of a selection dilemma—and not the one at the back. There may be very real squad depth issues Rodgers has had to cope with in defence due to a series of fullback injuries, but the bigger problem lies further up the pitch. The real problem is at positions that haven't been ravaged by injury and where, in theory at least, the club's summer dealings should have given the manager the options he needs to navigate a season without European commitment.

The real selection problem heading into the weekend doesn't come at the back, where the use of three centre halves to combat Liverpool's fullback injury crisis at the very least appeared a promising tactic against Manchester United, but in midfield and at striker, positions where Rodgers does have depth and options. Or at least where he should have, given he and his scouting staff just spent the better part of £15M bringing in a pair of players to provide depth there. Iago Aspas at a hair under £8M and Luis Alberto for just short of £7M aren't nailed-on starters—at least not yet in Alberto's case—but they cannot have been intended to be no more than expensive ornaments for Liverpool's bench.

In the end, though, that's just what they've seemingly become, with Alberto largely relegated to U21 action and Aspas out of favour after he failed to impress when asked to play a more peripheral role than he had at Celta. If the players ahead of them on the depth chart at their natural positions were fully fit and on form, it wouldn't be an issue. The problem is that they quite clearly aren't, with Steven Gerrard having appeared to have reached the stage in his career where going all out for 90 minutes even once a week is a difficult ask and Daniel Sturridge carrying a knock that shows no signs of improving with the manager asking the striker to play every minute of every match.

For Gerrard, despite looking exceptionally ineffective—and perhaps even infuriatingly indifferent—against Southampton on the weekend, it was no surprise that he found just that little bit extra in the early going on Wednesday against United, and as a result he was one of the most effective players on the pitch throughout the first half. Unfortunately, it was just as unsurprising when the second half saw Gerrard fade out of the match. It was so bad that, by the end, Kolo Toure was storming the United penalty area and desperately trying to wave Liverpool's captain forward to join him while a spent Gerrard hung back, unwilling or unable to commit himself to the attack.

It didn't help, either, that Lucas was removed in the second half after a highly dubious yellow card began to hinder what had been a solid display for the Brazilian. With the club's defensive specialist in midfield gone along with Gerrard's legs, the captain seemed to have no confidence in his ability to get back in coverage should Liverpool turn the ball over. And so, as a result, he appeared to choose simply to not commit himself forward. Past the 70th, 80th, and finally the 90th minute, with Liverpool reverting to something of a 4-3-3 and Toure the nominal defensive midfielder, Gerrard just sat back, forcing the willing but not especially threatening defender to be the one pushing on for a late equalizer.

Daniel Sturridge, meanwhile, looked punch-drunk on the ball for much of the night. Uncertain at times, stumbling at others, it seemed as clear as at any point this season that whatever knock the England striker began the year with and that kept him out of action over the last international break remains an issue. Sturridge has shown an admirable desire and determination to play through the discomfort and delivered a series of effective performances despite being at far less than 100%, but on Wednesday, two games in a week appeared to be asking far too much of a player who probably shouldn't have started and who at the very least should have been taken off in the second half.

What's worse is that when the match ended, Rodgers still had an unused substitution in hand along with one exhausted and increasingly ineffective captain, one injured and increasingly ineffective striker, and £15M of hand-picked depth options at their positions still sat on the bench. Perhaps, being that the match was against Manchester United, Gerrard simply had to start. Perhaps, given the return of Suarez, Sturridge needed to play with an eye towards rediscovering their chemistry. Neither, though, needed to go the full ninety—against either United on Wednesday or Southampton last Sunday. Neither has needed to play every minute of every match so far this season.

Now, Liverpool face a trip to Sunderland on Sunday and a third match in eight days, where Rodgers will have to choose between a pair of players who appear unable to handle the workload he's given them and a pair of pricey depth options he has clearly shown he isn't confident enough to play for even a minute in place of either starter. It seems a winless situation for Rodgers, but that's only because of choices already made. Neither Sturridge nor Gerrard should have had to play 180 minutes this week. They shouldn't be asked to play 90 minutes every game. Now that they have, and especially with Liverpool having lost the last two matches, Rodgers is left with a dilemma of his own making.

Rodgers: We'll Reinforce Again In January

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is hoping to maintain his side's impressive start to the Premier League campaign until Christmas, and will strengthen the Merseyside club's prospective title challenge with the addition of new signings in January, reports the Daily Mirror.

The Reds boss has plenty of reason for optimism in 2013/14 following a series of solid early season performances, as the club tasted defeat in the league for the first time last weekend after a 1-0 loss to Southampton at Anfield.

With 10 points from the opening five games, Liverpool are currently well-placed in fifth, and ahead of Sunday's trip to the Stadium of Light to face Sunderland, Rodgers has challenged his players to get back to winning ways as soon as possible.

"The players have made an excellent start," said the Northern Irishman. "We were disappointed at the weekend, we were a bit flat and subdued and just couldn't really get going.

"Part of that was because of the players we have available, but I know that the players I have given absolutely everything."

After three victories from the opening three games, Liverpool have now gone three games without a win in all competitions following a 2-2 draw away at Swansea, defeat against Southampton, and last night's Capital One Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United after a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford.

However, Rodgers remains upbeat, and is hopeful of putting together a good run of results with the help of the recently returned Luis Suarez, who made his first appearance following a 10-game ban on Wednesday evening.

"Now we can only concentrate on the league through to Christmas," he explained. "We have to make sure we stay up in the top six in the league and keep fighting.

"Hopefully we can reinforce again in January."

Liverpool To Make Offer For Midfielder In January

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to be reunited with Gylfi Sugurdsson and is ready to make a formal approach for the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder in January.

Rodgers brought Sigurdsson back to the Premier League when he signed the midfielder on a short term loan for Swansea City and was again interested in signing him when he became the Liverpool manager in the summer of 2012.

Sigurdsson excelled during his time at Swansea and after deciding to leave Hoffenheim, was eventually persuaded to ignore a possible reunion with Rodgers in favour of moving to Tottenham.

The 24 year old had a mixed first season as he made some 49 appearances in all competitions, but he struggled to convince Andre Villas-Boas that he deserved regular starts and would feature in 27 games as a substitute.

Sigurdsson has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, scoring both goals in the 2-0 win over Norwich, but there is stiff competition for places after Spurs invested heavily throughout the summer.

The Liverpool Echo reports that Rodgers is keen to take advantage of that competition for places by offering Sigurdsson a possible exit in January.

Tottenham paid £8.8m for the Iceland international in the summer of 2012 and it remains to be seen whether Villas-Boas would be prepared to allow the midfielder to leave.

"It remains unclear whether Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will want to sell but business is business," a Spurs source is quoted as saying in the Echo. "Whatever he sells Gylfi for, there will be a decent mark-up."

Sigurdsson garnered a reputation for scoring goals from midfield having fired 17 for Reading in the Championship back in the 2009-10 season, while his return of seven goals in 18 league games for Swansea was equally impressive.

Liverpool have struggled for goals this season with just Daniel Sturridge and Victor Moses getting on the scoresheet in league action, and Rodgers may feel that Sigurdsson will help address this problem in January.

Liverpool Should Sign Carlton Cole

I appreciate that many people wouldn't like to class Carlton Cole among the Premier League greats but he is one of these players who has received an unfair criticism in his playing career.

Emile Heskey is somebody else with a similar style who has faced taunts for his non-prolific goalscoring record.

The fact is, neither of these players would have played as many games as they have in the Premier League if they weren't good strikers, let alone for England where Cole, under stiff competition, has played seven times.

The 29-year-old has received some negative press in recent weeks for his poor fitness which is holding up a return to the club that released him in the summer, West Ham United.

Sam Allardyce has clearly realized his mistake in not offering the striker a new deal at Upton Park.

The reason for not being offered more years was probably because the Hammers signed Andy Carroll before his injury, from Liverpool, which I think was another bad decision by The Reds.

He also struggled last year bagging only two Premier League goals.

However, Remember that saying: 'form is temporary, class is permanent.' Lest we forget that Manchester United and Liverpool were linked with a £20 million move for the powerful hitman just four years ago.

So why should Brendan Rodgers buy the former Chelsea youngster now? Quite simply, in the last three games Rodgers' side has lacked ideas going forward.

The sale of Carroll means the Anfield outfit no longer has a target-man. The fluent style of play employed under the Northern Irish manager may be attractive but they need to have another plan when it isn't working.

Luis Suarez's return is a massive boost but is he unlikely to win headers in the air against tall centre-backs when the nice passing has failed.

Swansea and Southampton in particular have rattled them recently and sometimes it looks as though they need a release, somebody who can win an aerial battle, hold up the ball and let the more creative players get the ball facing goal rather than their back to it.

Step up Carlton Cole the potential Kop saviour. And what's even better- he's free.

I'm not suggesting at all that he be a long term solution and shouldn't necessarily start ahead of Suarez or Daniel Sturridge but he would be a great option from the bench for the rest of this season if he can sort out fitness doubts, where Carroll was probably to expensive to leave on the bench, there wouldn't be the same problem in this case and the former Chelsea man is probably desperate to impress for a big club again.

How good a team can you be of you haven't got a varied squad, a squad for all conditions if you like.

Manchester United have got variety up front along with Tottenham Hotspur, as have Chelsea with the likes of Demba Ba, Samuel Eto'o and Fernando Torres, Arsenal probably wish they had more as well.

Even Barcelona who are the original passing masterminds have started to go more direct and for the Premier League against physical centre-backs, its vital.

People will still laugh off the man with nearly 300 career appearances but considering I’m biasing this article on his hold-up play and ability to bully defenders- he doesn't actually have a bad goalscoring record.

He managed 15 goals in the 2011/12 campaign and that was at West Ham, just imagine what he could potentially do with the better service from better, more creative players at Liverpool.

There's almost no chance of a move to Liverpool happening but it wouldn't be the worst decision in the world.

Remember in 2000 when Liverpool was laughed at for signing Gary McAllister? That turned out to be one of the most inspirational short term signings ever one year and five trophies later.

Liverpool Cast Gaze On Keita Balde Diao

Premier League hopefuls Liverpool could be making a move as soon as January for Lazio’s teenage goal-getter Keita Balde Diao.

The Merseyside club sent scouts to watch the exciting 18-year-old play in Rome after he joined Serie A from Barcelona in 2011.

Sky Sports Italia reported scouts from Brendan Rodgers’ side were checking out the forward from the stands during Lazio’s 1-0 win against Legia Warsaw in the Europa League last week.

They will have been impressed as the Spanish-born Senegal player proved to have a winning touch providing the assist for the game’s sole goal.

Diao was signed for only £250,000 from the Catalan giants – his contract with Lazio runs until 2017 and the club is understood to be willing to sell the prospect for a reasonable fee.

Rodgers is known to be keen on reinforcing his striking options with only Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge as his main forwards.

Wisdom Seeks Loan Move Away

Liverpool full-back Andre Wisdom is on the lookout for a loan move in a bid to further his career.

The 20-year-old broke into the first team last season and made 12 league starts but he has found opportunities limited this time around.

Despite Glen Johnson missing through injury Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has preferred to try Kolo Toure and Martin Kelly at right-back.

Wisdom is still highly rated at Anfield but admits he may look elsewhere for the time being with Championship side Wigan rumoured to be interested.

He told the club's official website: "We've signed a few more defenders and it's obviously going to be harder to get a spot in the team.

"But I've been given some time to play - it's appreciated and it has been good.

"Obviously I need experience - I need more games because I'm still learning.

"Maybe if I am to go on loan and get that experience I need, I can try to be a key player in the team."

Lucas Back In The Picture For Brazil

After nearly two years out of the Brazilian national team following injury and a coaching change, Lucas Leiva has been called up for the Selecao's October friendlies against South Korea and Zambia.

Having installed himself as one of the first names on Mano Menezes' teamsheet, a season ending injury while on top form and Brazil changing coaches while he sat on the sidelines recovering had put Lucas' hopes of taking part in next summer's World Cup in serious doubt.

Felipe Scolari's history of sticking with a settled lineup as much as possible left his chances looking even more bleak with the new national team manager appearing to have already decided on his likely squad—one that Lucas didn't appear all that close to being in contention for.

Today that all may have changed, with the player's World Cup hopes given new life by a call to participate a pair of friendlies against South Korea and Zambia during October's international break.

"Today the felling is [like] when I got my first call to play for Brazil," said Liverpool's defensive midfielder, adding that he is "very happy to have this opportunity to represent my country again."

It's a welcome return to the national team for Lucas after nearly two years away from international action. However, it will mean some long flights and massive timezone shifts for the 26-year-old Brazilian.

The first friendly against South Korea will be in Seoul on October 12th before Brazil travel to Beijing to face Zambia on neutral ground on the 15th.

Ayre Talks "Difficult" Suarez & Contract Extension Plans

Despite admitting to it being difficult at times for the club to deal with Luis Suarez and his crises, Ian Aryre sees the striker in Liverpool's long-term plans and even suggests there will be contract negotiations before the end of the season.

Following Wednesday disappointing loss to Manchester United, while most fans were asking questions about team selection and why manager Brendan Rodgers started the clearly tired and injured over players he brought in to provide depth over the summer, those further afield were more focused on Luis Suarez. And managing director Ian Ayre was more than happy to talk openly about the controversial striker's return and possible future at the club.

"Of course, any types of incident of that nature are damaging to a brand," Ayre told Sky Sports News in an interview following the match, "but Liverpool Football Club is way, way bigger and always will be way bigger than any one player or one individual. What is important at those times is to ensure we act respectfully and professionally as a football club. In the past, we got some of that wrong, [though] I'd say more recently we got that right.

"Luis is a street fighter, a larger than life character, and we have had to deal with it. Nobody is condoning his behaviour, but it is just something you have to deal with. We've worked a lot with him since the Ivanovic incident and he's back to what he's best at. We all move on together. Hard work and lessons have been learnt and we now have a process in place for any crisis. Not a Suarez crisis, just any one."

Despite the problems Suarez has caused Liverpool—a series of incidents and controversies stretching back nearly to the moment he arrived at the club—Ayre was quick to praise the striker's commitment to working hard in practice so that he would be ready to go when his latest ban ended.

"He's been committed," said Ayre. "He's worked hard, trained hard. It's been difficult, and been difficult for him really. It's always difficult being a footballer, and being a footballer like Luis Suarez you want to be on a football pitch. I think it's been a challenge for him but he's got through it and I think, for a first game back, for somebody who hasn't had the opportunity to play in the Premier League this season, he acquitted himself very well."

The managing director also suggested, in what will seem a rather unexpected twist for many following a contentious summer that saw Suarez openly agitate for a move first to Real Madrid and then to just about anywhere that wasn't Liverpool, which the club would look to begin contract negotiations before the season's end:

"We [look to] begin those type of discussions two years in from the end, so it'll be the end of this season. We'll do the same with everyone and at the right time we'll have the discussion with Luis and his advisors."

Few will expect any such discussions to go anywhere, though if Liverpool remain in the hunt for a Champions League berth comes the final months of the season then anything might be possible. Still, most will take Ayre's words as being largely for show, and the safer money will be on Suarez departing in January than on his signing a new deal in April or May.

Match Preview: Manchester United vs Liverpool

Luis Suarez could make his return from his 10-game suspension for Liverpool against Manchester United in the Capital One Cup at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening.

The Uruguayan has been absent since the FA handed down his punishment for the Branislav Ivanovic biting incident, and Brendan Rodgers may look to introduce back into the starting lineup as soon as possible to ease the burden on Danny Sturridge.

The England striker has been Liverpool's only source of goals this season, and the Liverpool boss could look to rest him after a low-key performance in the defeat to Southampton last Saturday.

As it's the Capital One Cup, Rodgers may well give a few of the youngsters and fringe players the opportunity to impress - so don't be surprised if Andre Wisdom and Raheem Sterling get playing time.

Similarly, Iago Aspas has been in and out of the starting lineup this season as he looks to get up to speed in the Premier League. He could get a chance from the start at Old Trafford.

Daniel Agger is expected to miss out through injury, while Joe Allen (hamstring), Philippe Coutinho (shoulder) and Glen Johnson (ankle) are all set to miss out as well.

Simon Mignolet could get a rest with the Reds set to travel to Sunderland next Sunday, in which case back-up Brad Jones would deputize.

And after the Southampton defeat, don't expect Rodgers to try the four centre-backs experiment again. With Johnson still out, Wisdom could come in, while Enrique came off the bench against the Saints.