TEAM NEWS: Glen Johnson returns for Liverpool while Andy Carroll is on the bench against former side Newcastle

Glen Johnson (Getty Images)

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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish has chosen to start with Andy Carroll on the bench against his former club Newcastle United.

The 22-year-old made a £35 million move to Merseyside in the winter transfer window, and scored his first two goals in the recent 3-0 victory over Manchester City.

But it appears that the youngster has not been able to regain his fitness in time for this game, and he starts from the bench.

Glen Johnson, however, has managed to recover from a hamstring injury sustained against West Bromwich Albion earlier in the season, and now returns to the starting line-up.

Newcastle have named an unchanged line-up from the one that recently carved out a draw against Blackpool.

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Flanagan; Maxi, Lucas, Spearing  Meireles; Kuyt, Suarez. Subs: Gulacsi, Kyrgiakos, Robinson, Shelvey, Cole, Ngog, Carroll.

Newcastle: Krul; Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Enrique; Barton, Nolan, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Lovenkrands. Subs: Harper, Perch, R. Taylor, S. Taylor, Ranger, Ferguson, Kuqi.