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Adam Lallana will play through the pain barrier to try to help drag Liverpool out of their current malaise.

The England star busted two ribs in his goal-scoring, match-winning performance at Leicester a week ago, and that is why he was only on the bench for the crucial Champions League showdown with Basel in midweek.

Lallana though, is ready to answer the Reds' call as they prepare for a visit to Manchester United on Sunday that could well define their season.

And he could be given a starting role at Old Trafford as boss Brendan Rodgers looks to ring the changes after the desperately disappointing Champions League exit on Tuesday.

Anfield boss Rodgers wants to freshen up his side as he looks to inspire a victory that will lift his team and revive their season, after so many set backs in recent weeks.

Lallana will play some part on Sunday, and Lazar Markovic could also be plunged into his first taste of one of the biggest rivalries in football, after impressing as a substitute against Basel, before being unfairly dismissed in that game.

Rodgers too, may just have Mario Balotelli in contention for the huge showdown with United, to provide an alternative goal-scoring threat following his lay-off with a groin problem.

Liverpool 1-1 Basel in pictures:

The Reds have managed just 11 goals in their last 12 matches - something of a culture shock for a side that scored more than 100 Premier League goals last season.

Balotelli trained with the squad on Thursday for the first time since picking up his injury on international duty with Italy three weeks ago. If he suffers no adverse reaction, will be added to the squad for Old Trafford.

While he has been far from a success since his summer move to Anfield, Rodgers is desperate for another source of goals after being forced to rely solely on Rickie Lambert in recent weeks, with Balotelli and Daniel Sturridge injured.

Fabio Borini is out in the cold as Liverpool look to offload him in January.

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* BALOTELLI is likely to accept an FA charge of disrepute after being deemed to have breached strict rules on social media use, in relation to language referencing race.

The forward though, will offer mitigating evidence and will request a personal hearing to stress he meant no offence – and has suffered serious racial abuse himself – with a post that contained an anti-racist message, but also included a reference to “Jews grabbing money”.

The FA will receive Baoltelli's response on Friday, and will set a date for the hearing.

The 24-year-old looks certain to be hit with a ban if he accepts the charge, but his mitigating evidence could see the usual three-game tariff reduced.