The captain's return to fitness is a welcome boost for manager Rafa Benitez. Gerrard has not started a league game since the beginning of October, and his absence has been felt. The England international will likely be an integral player for the Reds on Saturday as they look to win the often decisive midfield battle. Gerrard could be asked to push on in an advanced role, with many of the club's other attacking players struggling for fitness. City would be foolish not to close Gerrard down at every opportunity, with the midfielder boasting an often unstoppable long-range strike.

The midfield dynamo will play a vital role for Benitez's side versus City. His job is always clear: protect the back four. The Argentina international will look to harry opponents, breaking up play before handing possession over to his more creative team-mates. City's strength is attack, so Mascherano will need to be on top of his game if Liverpool are to keep their opponents at bay. Mascherano's work-rate is an infectious habit, which makes him a significant cog in Benitez's side.

During his four years in the Premier League, Reina has proved himself to be a consistently sound shot-stopper. The Spaniard could be in for a busy outing on Saturday, with City likely to bring the game to Liverpool, rather than sit back. Reina's reflexes are one of his strong points while he will need to be on his toes as City could look to exploit Liverpool's recent fragility on set-pieces. Reina must be dominant in the air if he is to to help breathe confidence back into the Reds' defensive line.

Barry is expected to be fit for the clash, despite picking up a groin problem during the international break. The midfielder almost joined the Reds from Aston Villa in 2008, only for a protracted transfer saga to come to nothing. Barry will likely be eager to prove the Reds were wrong for not meeting Villa's full asking price when they had the chance. He will also be keen to show that his move to City was not all about money; victory at Anfield for Mark Hughes' men would go a long way to demonstrating they can compete among the big boys this season.

The defender's last trip to Anfield - when playing for Arsenal - ended in a 4-4 draw. Toure will be hopeful this time that his new team will defend better as a unit. The City skipper's defensive partnership with Joleon Lescott remains a work in progress, with the club managing just one clean sheet in their last eight league games. Toure will need to be at his bullish best on Merseyside, while the Ivory Coast international will no doubt be hoping that Fernando Torres is not passed fit to play any part in the encounter.

The former Arsenal attacker appears to have gone off the boil of late, with a combination of injury and suspension disrupting his settling in period at City. But there is no questioning the Togo international's talent, and his ability to turn a game on its head. On his day, Adebayor can prove to be one of the toughest strikers to play against. His armoury of pace and power make him a dangerous thorn in the side of defences. Liverpool's backline will need to be very wary of allowing too much space in behind, with Adebayor always looking to break the offside trap.