Brendan Rodgers will welcome back Jordon Ibe for this weekend’s game against West Bromwich Albion. The youngster missed our FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa, having already played in the competition for Derby.
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Reports from our official website have confirmed that Daniel Sturridge, Mamadou Sakho and Lucas Leiva won’t be fit, although Adam Lallana could return to play some more, most likely from the substitutes bench.
Here’s the team we think Brendan Rodgers will go for…
GK) Simon Mignolet
At the risk of repeating ourselves, there really is no competition for the Belgian as things stand. While he wasn’t at his best against Villa, he’s done little wrong since the turn of the year and will, of course, keep his place.
RB) Glen Johnson
Only made the bench at Wembley but replaces Dejan Lovren here, with Emre Can moved into the middle. West Brom can definitely be got at down the flanks and Johnson’s extra pace and directness should help with that.
CB) Martin Skrtel
There are no question marks over the Slovakian’s place in the team right now – he’s arguably the least ‘droppable’ player that we have. With Mamadou Sakho still out, he’ll have his hands-full keeping his teammates in position.
CB) Emre Can
The German must be desperate to make the step-up to midfield but with Sakho sidelined he’s simply going to have to wait. Lovren struggled against Villa and will likely be returned to the bench, meaning Can moves inside.
LB) Alberto Moreno
With still no sign of Jose Enrique there is little competition for Moreno’s position. Jon Flanagan is back in training but will need time to work his way back to full-fitness. Like Johnson, he needs to work up and down the flank.
DM) Steven Gerrard
There are now just six games remaining for Gerrard in a Liverpool shirt and it’s hard to imagine Rodgers could convince him to sit one of them out on the bench, even if he wanted to. Has he got one more magic moment left?
CM) Jordan Henderson
Fresh off the back of his bumper new contract, the vice-captain will no doubt be looking to justify his six-figure salary. Up against former Manchester United star Darren Fletcher, he’ll want to have a big game.
CM) Joe Allen
With Lucas out there’s a dangerous shortage of midfield players in our squad right now. While Allen has had his critics, we can see no other choice but to start him. Let’s hope he can rediscover the form of early 2015.
RW) Jordon Ibe
A big miss against Villa. The youngster will step up his return from injury here, providing support for the Reds more established forward pair. We expect to see him replaced by Lallana for the final 20 minutes.
LW) Raheem Sterling
Is there ever a game when he’s not under pressure? He might be our top scorer, with 11 goals in all competitions, but Henderson’s new deal has drawn greater scrutiny over why Sterling’s perspective contract remains unsigned.
ST) Philippe Coutinho
With Sturridge again sidelined, we’ve kept with the Brazilian in the ‘false nine’ role. He was the only Liverpool player who looked like scoring against Villa, while Mario Balotelli didn’t do enough to suggest he should start.