Sunderland's Pascal Chimbonda (leg), Kieran Richardson (calf), Phil Bardsley (hamstring) and Danny Higginbotham (back) have all recovered to feature.
But Kenwyne Jones, Dwight Yorke and Paul McShane miss out through injury for Roy Keane's Black Cats.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will be fit to lead them into the new season after recovering from a thigh injury.
There are doubts over Xabi Alonso and Yossi Benayoun, but Fabio Aurelio and Martin Skrtel are back in contention. <!-- E SF -->
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Sunderland (from): Gordon, Ward, Fulop, Chimbonda, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Collins, Higginbotham, Liddle, Edwards, Diouf, Tainio, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Reid, Richardson, Malbranque, Miller, Luscombe, Henderson, Chopra, Murphy, Stokes, Waghorn.
Liverpool (from): Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Agger, Hyypia, Skrtel, Dossena, Insua, Benayoun, Gerrard, Plessis, Alonso, Kuyt, Aurelio, Pennant, Torres, Ngog, Keane, Voronin, Cavalieri, Finnan.
Liverpool kick off their 47th consecutive top-flight campaign, leading Manchester United by one in terms of league titles (18 to 17), but without major silverware for two seasons.
Sunderland avoided last term resulting in a one season stay in the Premier League for a third time, and are participating in their eighth campaign in this league.
Sunderland are chasing their 50th league victory over Liverpool.
The Black Cats have failed to score in seven of their last eight Premier League meetings with Liverpool, including the last four.
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