Liverpool are waiting on the availability of key trio Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Sotiris Kyrgiakos ahead of Saturday's important clash at Sunderland. All three players sustained injuries whilst on international duty in the past week and face a race against time to get up for the Black Cats at the Stadium of Light.

England midfielder Gerrard was substituted at half-time of last Saturday's match against Ukraine and then limped out of national team training earlier this week with a groin problem and is in major doubt of missing the fixture.

Spanish striker Torres has a slight adductor injury and along with Gerrard will be assessed on Friday whilst Greece defender Kyrgiakos hurt his knee against Luxembourg and early indications may be that he has sustained cruciate ligament damage.