Roll up, roll up. Steven Gerrard's in town. Roll up.

Is Gus Poyet right when he says football fans should be clambering over the turnstiles to get a final glimpse of Steven Gerrard in the coming months?

"If I was a football fan I would want to be at the stadium today because I would not want to miss the chance to watch Steven Gerrard live for maybe the last time in the north east," said Poyet, while eating the box of chocolates sent to him by the ticket office staff.

"He is worth buying a ticket for because there are not many like him and he is going to be missed. He is different and it is great to get the opportunity to watch him live."

Image source, Getty Images

Graeme in Lincoln: So let's get this right... Steven Gerrard needs regular rest because he's getting too old and Raheem Sterling needs a rest because he's too young?! Yep, that certainly makes sense!

Image source, PA

Sunderland boss Gus Poyet, speaking to BT Sport: "There are plenty of issues but I always say I don't like excuses and the way is to look forward and make sure we start winning games.

"Steven Fletcher had a little bit of a injury to his groin on Thursday. We thought he would recover but unfortunately not. His replacement Jozy Altidore got sick during the night. The idea is to get two or three consecutive victories and, hopefully, we can start today."

Peter Collins:, external Raheem Sterling said earlier in the season he was tired. Whether he should be, if he is, he needs rest. Good management.

Stephen Austin:, external People are questioning Brendan Rodgers resting Raheem Sterling, does any remember saying Michael Owen was overplayed?

Andy Donley:, external If I was a Liverpool fan I'd be livid at Sterling is missing today. But as an England fan and a football fan it makes perfect sense.

Kevin Kilbane
BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light

"With Raheem Sterling and his 'holiday' to Jamaica, it's just so uncommon with a player that is fully fit and ready to play. I know it's been a long calendar year for him, but it's just unusual. Liverpool need a result, they are not in the best form, but Brendan Rodgers perhaps feels he needs it. I understand it, but it usually it happens with a player when they are injured. Sir Alex Ferguson did it, but they often had a squad that was big enough to cope with it."

Ipswich are looking sharp early on, with Jay Tabb having a close-range shot saved by goalkeeper Lee Grant and David McGoldrick shooting over the bar. A win for the hosts will put them top for a couple of hours - before leaders Bournemouth entertain Norwich later.

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 live commentator at the Stadium of Light

"Before he was rested for the FA Cup game against AFC Wimbledon Raheem Sterling had started every match for Liverpool since their 1-0 defeat away to Real Madrid. If you remember back to the time of England's game Estonia game when Sterling was complaining of being tired, Brendan Rodgers said he would at some point he would be rested. So he just feels now is that time."

Andrew in Richhill: The fact that Fabio Borini starts ahead of Mario Balotelli just goes to show how little he is trusted by Brendan Rodgers. I still can't believe Liverpool bought him in the summer! He has disrupted the whole squad.

Muhammad in Birmingham: Whilst Raheem Sterling gets a handsomely paid break, having had one in the summer, albeit a short one, his team mates are slogging it out in Sunderland. Weak.

Lee Sheppard: Yes all very well Sterling having a mid season break. But too late to change my fantasy league team now!

Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on Football Focus

On Raheem Sterling being rested: "I don't think it sends out the right message to the group. If you want to rest him, OK, but send him to the other side of the world? It is an odd one."

Matt Quinlan:, external Raheem Sterling's break was mentioned weeks and weeks ago, way before Christmas. Nothing to get knickers in a twist about.

Malay Nemane:, external Sterling off to Jamaica coz he's tired again! This boy has no stamina compared to other footballers his age.

William Swayne:, external Our best player is on leave, our 0 goal striker is alone up front and our goalie couldn't catch a cold. Sounds good to me.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, speaking to BT Sport: "It was always in the plan after Christmas that we would then give Raheem Sterling a break. There has to be a point you trust other players and give him a recovery period. This is the last game he misses and he will be back in training next week.

"Fabio Borini hasn't had a lot of chances but I know him well. I know his intensity and how hard he works every day. He's done very well in training again and he gets a chance today against a club he did well for last year."

On midfielder Lucas Leiva's future: "There will be no loan deal for Lucas. We have had nothing as of yet in writing. I have spoken to him. He has been a player who has been in the team so we will look to keep him."

Mark Lawrenson
Football Analyst on Football Focus

"Tony Pulis is old school. He squeezes everything out of every player and that is why he is so good at avoiding relegation.

"With Pulis, if you are getting beat at half-time, and you are not at it, he will get right in your face and guarantee a reaction."

Football Focus BBC Sport
Football Focus

More from West Brom boss Tony Pulis, speaking about striker Saido Berahino, who has been linked with a January move away from the club: "He has been fantastic for me. He has been the first on the training ground and the last off. When you talk to him, he actually looks you in the eye and that means a lot.

"While he is our player I will give him the utmost care and attention. We can clear his mind of all that is going on around him and keep him focused. He has a gift."

Sunderland have won just one of the last four times when they have hosted Liverpool and head into the match with only one victory in their last 10 games. The Black Cats need a win.

"We had a difficult month against lots of top teams and although I don't think we did fantastic we did okay," said manager Gus Poyet. "Now we go into the second part (of the season) knowing we need to win more games and we need to be more clinical at home. Everything starts against Liverpool and the challenge is clear."

Football Focus BBC Sport
Football Focus

West Brom boss Tony Pulis: "The club has only won four games in 2014 at The Hawthorns. The home form has been terrible and we have to sort that out quickly. The fans are massively important for the next few months."

BBC Radio 5 live

Kevin Kilbane and John Murray ready on Radio 5 live for Sunderland v Liverpool at 12:45 GMT.

Gary Lineker
BBC Sport

"It's Saturday. It's windy. Keep your high balls low."

Jas Grewal:, external Brendan Rodgers giving Raheem Sterling a break? He's not 12 that he needs a break and gets paid way too much for it.

Kevin Samuel:, external Sterling's break is rare piece of long-term sense in modern game. To make him attend games wouldn't allow him to fully relax.

Sirhan Al Sirhan:, external Everybody knows Liverpool having a bad season yet Rodgers rest his best player?

We're under way in the Championship's early game. It's second against third. Big Mick against Stevie Mc. Let's go.

Liverpool's New Year's resolution is to be better at the back, judging by Brendan Rodgers' comments ahead of this match.

"You can have the ball a lot of the game and you will still have to defend at some points in the game," said Rodgers. "You have to remain calm; the single biggest thing has been mistakes.

"It is not so much structurally but we have a tendency at times to make mistakes and that has cost us. That is something we work hard to get the players to eradicate from their game."

So, structurally speaking, Brendan's saying it's not his fault?