Gerrard bemoans tough build up to United clash

Steven Gerrard has admitted that Liverpool aren’t in perfect shape after a tough week leading up to Sunday’s clash with Manchester United, according to the Metro.

Brendan Rodger’s men needed extra time to get past League One side Notts County in the League Cup third round on Tuesday evening – a game in which they lost two key defenders to injury.

New arrivals Kolo Toure and Aly Cissokho left the field of play after suffering knocks, and join fellow defenders Sebastian Coates and Martin Skrtel on the injury list, though the latter is rated at 50/50 to feature at the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Reds have been drawn against United in the pick of the ties from the League Cup third round draw.

The game could see the return to action of Uruguay international Luis Suarez, who will serve the final game of his ten-match suspension the weekend before the clash at Old Trafford.

The 26 year old hasn’t played a competitive club game since the 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Anfield on April 21st, the game in which he bit Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic, and looks almost certain to remain on Merseyside despite being linked with a move away from the club all summer.