Soccer:Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to end a six-month spell on the sidelines after groin surgery at Brighton in the Carling Cup tomorrow. New signing Sebastian Coates is likely to be given a full debut in central defence while Craig Bellamy could get his first start since returning to the club last month.

Midfielder Charlie Adam and defender Martin Skrtel serve one-match bans after red cards against Tottenham at the weekend.

Danish defender Daniel Agger could be out for up to four weeks after fracturing a rib in Sunday's 4-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Tottenham.

The Denmark international sustained the injury when he fell heavily in the first half and had to be substituted before half-time.

However, there are contrasting reports on the extent of the injury.

"Daniel has got a fractured rib, so he's struggling a bit," manager Kenny Dalglish told liverpoolfc.tv.

However, the version offered by Agger's agent Per Steffensen differs slightly.

"It's the worst possible news. He has broken two ribs, and he must keep still for four weeks," Steffensen told sporten.tv2.dk.

He added on tipsbladet.dk: "Daniel is way down now and I certainly sympathise with him. "He will miss the two (international) matches against Cyprus and Portugal and there is a match against Manchester United he also misses. It's insanely annoying."

Liverpool provisional squad:Reina, Flanagan, Carragher, Coates, Robinson, Spearing, Lucas, Kuyt, Rodriguez, Bellamy, Carroll, Doni, Kelly, Enrique, Wilson, Gerrard, Shelvey, Downing, Henderson, Suarez.