Sissoko an Anfield favourite

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The all-action midfielder, snatched from Valencia by boss Rafael Benitez last summer from under the noses of Everton, has emerged as a major influence on the Anfield side.

He made a rapid recovery from the eye injury he sustained in February against Benfica, and has confounded the initial medical assessment that his eyesight could be permanently impaired.

Now Sissoko, who is expected to face Bolton in the Premiership on Sunday, has earned the praise of both defender Jamie Carragher and Benitez.

Carragher said: "Sissoko has been one of the top performers this season, not just for Liverpool but right across the country, and he is only 21.

"To come back from the accident he had in Lisbon has been impressive, and to come straight back into big matches like the derby says it all, he has been tremendous for us all season."

Benitez had Sissoko under his wing at Valencia, and his £5.6million fee is now looking money well spent.

"When the technical director at Valencia decided to sign him I gave him every support," said Benitez.

"He was initially signed for the reserve team but in pre-season I said: ’He will stay with us in the first-team squad’.

"We were surprised to see how much energy he had and how hard he worked. He was so focused, is a good professional and a nice young man.

"As a manager he.....continued below

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is the kind of player you like to have when he is young because you can work and teach him, he is like a sponge."

Steven Gerrard will return from suspension to face Bolton, while Daniel Agger is out with a shin injury.

Robbie Fowler is expected to partner Peter Crouch up front.

And Carragher has been full of praise for the contribution made by Fowler, who turns 31 on Sunday, since returning to the club in January.

"Robbie has been great since he returned, not just for goals but with his all-round play," said Carragher.

"He has become a different sort of player now, just in behind the strikers and that always happens when strikers get older, it happened to Dalglish when Rushie was playing up the front.

"They may not quite have the ’legs’ anymore but they can become better and different players."