Lucas Leiva returns to Liverpool squad for visit of Southampton

Premier League team news

Lucas Leiva has played a pivotal role in Liverpool's midfield this term (GETTY IMAGES)

Midfielder Lucas Leiva returns to Liverpool's match-day squad to face Southampton at Anfield after a three-month injury absence.

The Brazil international has finally recovered from a thigh injury, while Joe Cole has overcome a hamstring problem which forced him out of the midweek defeat at Tottenham.

Defender Andre Wisdom, on the bench at White Hart Lane after a knee injury, could come back into contention for a starting place.

Provisional squad: Reina, Wisdom, Agger, Skrtel, Johnson, Gerrard, Allen, Lucas, Enrique, Suarez, Sterling, Jones, Carragher, Coates, Shelvey, Sahin, Henderson, Downing, Cole, Assaidi.

PA