Even the most ardent of Liverpool fans will struggle to deny that finishing in the Premier League’s top four is now little more than a distant dream, especially with just four games remaining.
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Liverpool transfer news
So as we head into today’s match against Queens Park Rangers looking to pick up just a second win in six games, we’ve taken a look at our squad and questioned what other options Brendan Rodgers might have available to him – after all, surely now is the right time to trial these young players.
Here are six Reds we’d like to see given a chance in some capacity today:
6) Lazar Markovic
The Serbian hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes since mid-January. This simply needs to change. Brendan Rodgers needs to show a bit of faith in the £20m man and give him the opportunity to restore some of his damaged confidence. Continually hauling him off at half-time, as he did against Aston Villa and Arsenal, isn’t helping. If this guy is to play as big a role in our future as has been predicted then we need to stick by him and give him time.
Conclusion: Must Start
5) Samed Yesil
Brendan Rodgers needn’t look too far to solve his current striker crisis. With Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli both out there seems no better time to trial his young German, who became one of his first Liverpool signings back in 2012. Yesil is still waiting on his first Premier League appearance after two serious injuries but scored twice on his return to the Under-21s against Tottenham Hotspur last week. Also played against Everton on Thursday.
Conclusion: Possible Bench
4) Javier Manquillo
We’ve seen very little of our young Spanish full-back since the turn of the year. He hasn’t played a single minute of league football since December and has just two starts and one substitute appearance to his name in any competition since then. We look likely to have him for at least another year, the second-half of his two-year loan deal, so it seems foolish to let him waste away on the bench. Get him in and allow Emre Can to move into midfield.
Conclusion: Possible Start
3) Jerome Sinclair
The youngster looked dangerous in the Anfield Charity match back in March and has reportedly done well during his loan spell at Wigan Athletic, which ended last weekend. He’s certainly more qualified to feature than when he made his Liverpool debut back in 2012, so why not give him a few minutes at the end. He’s conceivably in a race with Yesil to see who gets that final strikers spot on the bench and he probably just edges out the German for us.
Conclusion: Bench
2) Ryan Kent
Having only recently returned from injury, the two-day turnaround from Thursday’s Under-21s match against Everton seems a little much to ask. However, his performance in that game – which included two wonderful goals – proved that he needs to be in and around the first-team squad as soon as possible. Get him involved as part of the warm-up, get him used to the match-day atmosphere and hopefully he’ll be ready for a few minutes soon.
Conclusion: With the first-team
1) Sheyi Ojo
The youngster was used regularly by Wigan, making 11 first-team appearances. He scored against Everton on Thursday and has been included in Brendan Rodgers’ match-day squads before. If the teenager is up for a game and doesn’t feel too jaded after the other night then there’s no reason why he can’t play some small part, if only as a late substitute. Such as inclusion would certainly go down well with the fans, for whom he’s already a favourite.
Conclusion: Bench
