Liverpool will be without suspended duo Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen for the clash against Birmingham at Anfield on Monday (8pm).

The pair are starting their bans after they were sent off against Fulham in the Premier League last weekend.

There is better news on the injury front at last for Liverpool. Martin Skrtel (virus) and Fabio Aurelio (calf) are back in the squad.

Albert Riera (hamstring) is also close to a comeback, but there are still doubts over Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly, while Liverpool are still assessing the groin problems affecting Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Liverpool (from): Reina, Aurelio, Darby, Agger, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Insua, Lucas, Mascherano, Aquilani, Kuyt, Babel, Benayoun, Voronin, Ngog, Cavalieri, Spearing, Riera, Torres, Gerrard, Ayala, Plessis.