DMC) Lucas
There’s three options for the anchorman role: Lucas, Joe Allen and Emre Can. Welshman Allen was hauled off versus Stoke after 45 minutes a few months back, and we need someone more steely and disciplined in this role away from home. Many fans want to see Emre Can in central midfield, but we predict the boss to choose the safer, if less exciting option – Lucas. The Brazilian is compact, and can provide a defensive platform from which Henderson and Milner can then bomb on.
MC) Jordan Henderson
The skipper is arguably the first name on the team-sheet. Henderson will lead the side out against Stoke this time instead of Steven Gerrard, who was of course so let down by his team-mates at the end of May. Henderson’s character and determination is such that he’ll be absolutely desperate to make amends.
MC) James Milner
Milner is expected to take on a central midfield role with Liverpool rather than patrol the flanks as he had to with City. This means that along with Henderson, he can dovetail the holding midfielder and act as a box-to-box player – maximising his all-round defensive, offensive and physical attributes.
