LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 2, 2016: Liverpool's substitute Joe Allen warms-up during the Premier League match against West Ham United at Upton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. Sunderland: Allen in, Sturridge on the bench

Zeljko Buvac and the rest of Jurgen Klopp‘s backroom team will take charge, making one change as Liverpool take on Sunderland at Anfield.

LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 2, 2016: Liverpool's substitute Joe Allen warms-up during the Premier League match against West Ham United at Upton Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Klopp will miss the game due to a suspected bout of appendicitis, but while there are considerable changes in the dugout as the Reds welcome Sunderland to Merseyside, Liverpool line up in the same shape as in Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to Leicester City.

This sees Simon Mignolet take his place in goal, behind a back four of Nathaniel Clyne, Dejan Lovren, Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno.

Moreno’s poor contribution against the Foxes led to calls for one of Brad Smith or Jon Flanagan to take his place, but the Spaniard is retained, and will be looking for an improved performance.

In midfield, Joe Allen is the only change from the King Power Stadium, and the Welshman is joined by Emre Can and Jordan Henderson, in what could be either a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation.

Henderson lined up on the right wing at the King Power Stadium, but may revert to a central role on Saturday.

If the captain drops back into the midfield, James Milner will continue on the left flank, while Adam Lallana will move to the right, with the England duo fielded in support of Roberto Firmino.

Danny Ward, Kolo Toure, Flanagan, Lucas Leiva, Jordon Ibe and Christian Benteke are joined by Daniel Sturridge on the substitutes’ bench.

Sturridge is including in the matchday squad for the first time in two months.

Liverpool: Mignolet; Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Allen, Henderson, Can; Lallana, Milner, Firmino

Substitutes: Ward, Toure, Flanagan, Lucas, Ibe, Benteke, Sturridge

Sunderland: Mannone; Jones, O’Shea, Kone, Van Aanholt; Kirchhoff, Cattermole, M’Vila; Khazri, Watmore, Defoe

Substitutes: Pickford, Brown, Rodwell, N’Doye, Johnson, Toivonen, Yedlin

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