Liverpool’s final shot at a Champions League place comes on Tuesday when they take on Hull City at the KC Stadium, looking for only a second win in five Premier League outings.
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Liverpool transfer news
Manchester United’s crushing defeat at Goodison Park on Sunday means that we can close the gap to Louis van Gaal’s side back to just four points with four games remaining.
With United still facing a tricky tie at Crystal Palace and a game with high-flying Arsenal, there could miraculously be hope left for Brendan Rodgers’ side, if we can win all of our remaining fixtures.
Here’s how we think we’ll kick things off against the Tigers:
GK) Simon Mignolet
Kept his thirteenth clean-sheet since the turn of the year against West Brom on Saturday, although in all fairness he was rarely tested. Made one smart stop with his feet in the final minutes to ensure we held onto a point.
RB) Emre Can
We’ve gone four at the back for this one, with one of the reasons being that we liked the look of the German when he got forward down the right against Albion. He needs the chance to push forward and with a busy midfield this could be the way to do it.
CB) Martin Skrtel
Needs to put any lingering thoughts of imminent contract talks out of his mind and get back to his best form. He’s looked a little bit shaky since his return from suspension, uncharacteristically so. It’d be good to see him grab a goal as well, having got just the one this term.
CB) Dejan Lovren
Played very well against West Brom and should definitely keep his place in the team here. If he can continue to produce performances like that between now and the end of the season then he’ll be feeling a lot happier come the summer break.
LB) Glen Johnson
Needed more end product against West Brom, so we’ve dropped him back into a more natural full-back position, so that he’ll hopefully have someone ahead of him to come and help. We expect Alberto Moreno to still be out.
DM) Steven Gerrard
The countdown on his Liverpool career continues as we his final five matches in the famous red. He might not be able to influence a game in the same way that he once did but there’s surely one magical moment left from him.
CM) Jordan Henderson
Needs to be stepping up and proving his worth after signing that big-money deal last week. With Gerrard closing in on an exit, we need to be seeing Henderson rapidly maturing and becoming the player we know he can be.
CM) Joe Allen
Given a rest against West Brom, where we arguably missed him in the middle – keeping things ticking and allowing those around him to shine. We fully expect him to return in this one as the Reds play a midfield three.
RW) Jordon Ibe
We want the youngster pushed further forward than he was against West Brom, where he had to make do with a wing-back role. He’s still on his way back from two months on the sidelines and needs time before he’s fully firing.
LW) Raheem Sterling
One of the biggest questions for Rodgers is quickly becoming how to get the best out of Raheem Sterling, who has played all over the place so far this season. Hopefully he’ll benefit from having Ibe and Coutinho around him.
ST) Philippe Coutinho
We predicted last week that the Brazilian would start in the false nine role and were proven wrong by the inclusion of Mario Balotelli. After the Italian’s quiet and ineffective afternoon at the Hawthorns we’re expecting a change.
