Leaders Liverpool brought back Steven Gerrard, Jose Reina, Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso who were all rested from the midweek Champions League win in Eindhoven.

Boss Rafael Benitez reverted to the same side that won in the Premier League at Blackburn last weekend, which meant that Robbie Keane was on the bench and Sami Hyypia was preferred to Daniel Agger.

Hull, with excellent wins already on the road at Arsenal and Spurs, made just one change from the side that beat Middlesbrough last Saturday, Bernard Mendy taking over from Dean Marney, who was on the bench.