Javier Mascherano will return from a one-match suspension for Liverpool's game at home to Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League.

The midfielder's future is becoming clearer, with Liverpool having a verbal agreement that they will be able to turn the third-party loan deal they have with Mascherano's owners into an £18.6 permanent deal in the near future.

Mascherano was banned from Liverpool's 1-0 defeat in midweek by West Ham, his former club.

Liverpool still have Alvaro Arbeloa and Andriy Voronin out with long-term injuries but Daniel Agger is now back in full training and is expected to return later this month.

Sunderland midfielder Kieran Richardson could return to the squad after shaking off a hamstring problem.

The 23-year-old has missed the last two games through injury after scoring both goals in the 2-0 victory over Portsmouth on January 13.

However, Dwight Yorke is out with the calf injury he picked up in Tuesday night's 2-0 win over Birmingham, while new £4million signing Andy Reid continues his recovery from a knee problem.

Michael Chopra returns from suspension, but Greg Halford and Graham Kavanagh have left the club on loan deals, Dickson Etuhu remains on African Nations Cup duty and Carlos Edwards (broken leg), Ross Wallace (knee ligaments) and Danny Higginbotham and Grant Leadbitter (both broken toe) are still out.