Liverpool will be looking to complete a perfect Premier League week when they entertain Sunderland on Saturday.

The Reds have collected maximum points from their last two matches to ease the pressure on Brendan Rodgers and climb back into the top half of the table.

Steven Gerrard was restored to the side and scored on Tuesday as they inflicted more misery on struggling Leicester City with a 3-1 triumph at the King Power Stadium.

That followed a late 1-0 home success over Stoke City, and another winnable game presents itself to the Merseysiders this weekend as they look to make it three in seven days, having previously gone five games without one.

Although Sunderland have only lost four matches this season - two fewer than Liverpool - they have the joint-least victories in the division with just two from 14 matches. Their eight draws, three of which have come in their previous four outings, have restricted them to 14th in the table.

Gus Poyet may have been thinking that at least another point was on the cards when his side took the lead against Manchester City at the Stadium of Light on Wednesday.

However, two Sergio Aguero specials helped the champions turn things around and the Black Cats were eventually on the end of a 4-1 defeat.

Poyet will be forced into at least one change from his midweek starting XI, with Liverpool loanee Sebastian Coates ineligible to face his parent club. Wes Brown should be recalled to fill that defensive void.

Another loan star, Inter Milan's Ricky Alvarez, made his comeback off the bench and may be considered for a start as injuries to Adam Johnson and Emmanuele Giaccherini have left Sunderland short of creativity.

Former Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell should also be included for the visitors, but he may not be up against Gerrard in the centre of the park as Rodgers considers resting the former England captain ahead of the make-or-break Champions League tie with Basel at Anfield on Tuesday.

Glen Johnson, Lucas Leiva, Raheem Sterling and Rickie Lambert could also be saved, meaning that Alberto Moreno, Emre Can and Fabio Borini, who scored seven goals during a loan spell at Sunderland last season to help keep them in the top flight, are all in contention for starts.

Strike duo Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli, as well as Mamadou Sakho, Suso and Jon Flanagan remain sidelined for the Reds, who are unbeaten in their last 12 home matches against Sunderland in all competitions.

Liverpool:

Form in Premier League: DLLLWW
Form in all competitions: LLLDWW

Possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Manquillo, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno; Allen, Can, Henderson; Coutinho; Lallana, Borini

Sunderland:

Recent form: LWDDDL

Possible starting lineup: Pantilimon; Vergini, O'Shea, Brown, Reveillere; Cattermole, Rodwell, Larsson; WIckham, Alvarez, Fletcher

Sports Mole says: 1-0