Will Kolo Toure, Lucas and Rickie Lambert keep their spots in the side?
Here’s the side we think Brendan Rodgers could deploy to face Stoke City on Saturday afternoon…
GK) Simon Mignolet
Despite suggestions that Rodgers could drop the Belgian for his error midweek, we’re pretty sure Mignolet will remain between the sticks – eager to make up for his howler.
DR) Javier Manquillo
Rodgers seems to favour Manquillo and Johnson above Alberto Moreno right now, for no obvious reason. This means the young Spaniard starting on the right of the back four, and Johnson in Moreno’s natural left-back spot.
DC) Martin Skrtel
Skrtel always starts for Rodgers, and will likely do so again barring late injury.
DC) Kolo Toure
Any one of Toure, Dejan Lovren, or a nearly fit again Mamadou Sakho could play in this position – but following his decent midweek display, it seems futile to drop Toure and recall the woefully out of form Lovren.
DL) Glen Johnson
The Englishman needs to seriously up his defensive levels, if selected, as expected, against Stoke.
DMC) Lucas
“He will be in the plans [for Stoke City],” Rodgers said after the Champions League draw.. “Players like Lucas have got that natural competitiveness to help the team, and whenever he’s been asked to help the team he’s done really well.”
This could mean Lucas starts from the bench, but because his selection enables Gerrard to be used in a less constricted role – we think he’ll get the nod again. He deserves it, too.
MC) Steven Gerrard
Gerrard could arguably do with a break, but we don’t reckon Rodgers will pull the skipper out of the firing line just yet. He could start advanced of Lucas – although it will be difficult for Rodgers to drop Joe Allen after his decent midweek performance…
MC) Jordan Henderson
Henderson got in an excellent position to score versus Ludogorets, and while he wasn’t at his dynamic best – this should see him retain his spot in midfield against the Potters.
AMR/L) Raheem Sterling
Liverpool’s most creative player in Europe, Sterling showed glimpses that he’s getting back to his unplayable best with a great assist for Henderson’s goal. He struggles when asked to stick strictly to the right wing, so expect the two attacking midfielders deployed to be given free reign to swap wings and drift infield.
AML/R) Adam Lallana
Lallana is likely to get the nod ahead of Coutinho, although fans would probably love the Brazilian to be given a pivotal no.10 role, in a diamond behind Sterling and Lambert up top. Based on previous selections though, this seems unlikely.
FC) Rickie Lambert
The summer signing has bagged two in two, and with Mario Balotelli not 100% fit, he’s certain to be given another chance up top.
