Hull City v Liverpool: Steven Gerrard left out of squad while Mario Balotelli starts up front

Steven Gerrard has been left out of the Liverpool squad for their clash will Hull City at the KC Stadium on Tuesday 28 April.

Joe Allen steps in for the club captain in the only change to the side that drew with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Mario Balotelli also starts again in the absence of Daniel Sturridge.

Liverpool team to face Hull: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Johnson, Allen, Henderson, Ibe, Sterling, Coutinho, Balotelli.

Subs: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Lallana, Brannagan, Markovic.

For Hull, Mohamed Diame and Andy Robertson have both failed to recover in time following respective knee and ankle problems.

Hull team to face Liverpool: Harper, Dawson, Chester, McShane, Elmohamady, Brady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Quinn, Aluko, N'Doye

Subs: McGregor, Rosenior, Figueroa, Bruce, Ramírez, Hernández, Sagbo

Liverpool are still without the injured duo of Mamdou Sakho and Lucas Leiva, while there are doubts over whether Strurridge will play another game this season.

Hull, meanwhile, are without the injured trio of Curtis Davies, Robert Snodgrass and Nikica Jelavic, while David Meyler will serve a suspension at the KC Stadium this evening.

Liverpool are currently seven points behind fourth placed Manchester United but could be within a point of their arch-rivals by the time Louis van Gaal's side next play.

Three points against Steve Bruce's side followed by another win at home to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday 2 May will close gap. United are not in action until 5:30pm later that evening, hosting West Bromwich Albion.

Hull meanwhile gave their hopes of surviving relegation a much needed boost with their 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday 25 April. A point against Liverpool will be enough to lift them above Aston Villa into 15<sup>th place, thanks to their superior goal difference.