Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has promised to lead from the front as the fallen giant of English football bids to recover from the embarrassment of its League Cup defeat by fourth-tier Northampton.

Anfield boss Roy Hodgson admitted making a mistake in fielding a virtual second team in the midweek match Liverpool lost on penalties.

Liverpool has taken just five points from its opening five Premier League matches but is still just three points behind fourth-place Manchester City.

England midfielder Gerrard and several other first-team regulars are set to return for Saturday's home league match against Sunderland, and the player said it was their duty to rally the club.

"Football isn't just about highs," said the 30-year-old. "Throughout my career I have experienced both highs and lows and probably learnt more from the lows because you look at yourself first, look at what went wrong and try to learn from your mistakes.

"The players are allowed to be down today, but it's up to players like myself to pick them back up. We need to get everyone's head focused on Sunderland now.

"What I would ask all the supporters is to trust the players and what the players are saying.

"I've been reading and listening to what they've been saying and they've all said we'll get it right in the end - and we will."

Reigning champion and table-topper Chelsea is set to face the sternest test of its title credentials when it travels to big-spender Manchester City.

Chelsea was once renowned for flashing the cash and isn't exactly poor financially, yet City's 120 million pounds' spending in the latest transfer window was stunning even by the standards of its London rival.

Both sides suffered midweek League Cup defeats, but for Chelsea, four points clear of Arsenal and Manchester United, the league season could hardly have gone better with five wins out of five and 21 goals.

Chelsea and City have several players out injured, but the champion is set to have England central defender John Terry in its side after he marked his return from injury by playing in half of the Blues' 4-3 League Cup loss to Newcastle United.

"He played without and problems. It was in the plan to play him for just 45 minutes," Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said.