Hello and welcome to our live coverage from the Stadium of Light as Sunderland take on Liverpool. Kick-off is a 13:30

FIRST CHANCE LIVERPOOL: Carroll gets up highest to head down a corner from Meireles and it drops to Kuyt who swoops a shot towards goal but Mignolet makes a save from point-blank range with his feet.

John Mensah goes in heavy on Suarez…you feel Sunderland's Ghana contingent might like to get one over on the Uruguayan after what happened in the World Cup.

Bright start from Sunderland already….Liverpool seem to be playing Suarez and Kuyt wide either side of Carroll up the middle.

Daniel Agger looking anything but comfortable at left-back under pressure from Henderson but he finally hacks it clear.

Impeccably observed minute silence for those in Japan and we are underway….Liverpool wearning their black jerseys.

Owing to Carroll's recent injury problems, Suarez and Carroll have played just 15 minutes together - in the 3-1 win over Manchester United - since both arrived in January.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has warned his players they cannot afford to fall into the trap of becoming a long-ball team with Andy Carroll in the side.

Striker Danny Welbeck will make his first start for Sunderland since January, as the youngster returns from injury. Steve Bruce has also named Nedum Onuoha and Lee Cattermole amongst the substitutes this afternoon. Cattermole has not made an appearance in 2011 and Onuoha last featured during the home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

This fixture last season is probably the only game in history that will be forever remembered by these two words.

Sunderland: Mignolet, Ferdinand, Bramble, Mensah, Bardsley, Sessegnon, Henderson, Muntari, Richardson, Welbeck, Gyan; Subs: Gordon, Zenden, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Cattermole, Colback, Onuoha /// Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Agger, Kuyt, Meireles, Lucas, Spearing, Carroll, Suarez; Subs: Gordon, Zenden, Malbranque, Elmohamady, Cattermole, Colback, Onuoha

Steve Bruce will send his defenders out against Liverpool on Sunday under orders not to allow Andy Carroll to ruin his day for the second time this season.

Sunderland can move to within a point of Liverpool with a win today.

Still waiting for the Sunderland team news but Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll BOTH START for Liverpool. Their team is: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Skrtel, Spearing, Lucas, Meireles, Suarez, Kuyt, Carroll.