Liverpool have today announced their squad for the group stages of the Europa League. Brendan Rodgers has named 21 players, in accordance with UEFA’s rules, while he is permitted to play an unlimited number of players under the age of 21, provided they have played for the club for more than two years.
With this in mind, we’ve taken this opportunity to name our ideal Europa League XI for the upcoming games against Rubin Kazan, Bordeaux and FC Sion – assuming, as is usually the case, that the boss will use the early stages of this competition as an opportunity to hand game-time to some of the fringe members of his squad.
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Take a look and see if you agree…
GK) Adam Bogdan
Brad Jones was barely given a look in during his time at the club, even in the so called lesser competitions, but Bogdan is better than that and deserves his chance to impress here. We’re not going to have a legitimate rival for Mignolet unless we give his main rival some time on the pitch.
RB) Joe Gomez
Gomez has been primarily utilised as a left-back so far this season. However, a lack of full-back options within our squad mean that either he or Clyne are likely to feature in every game, with Alberto Moreno coming in on the left. We’d like to see Gomez, who is right-footed after all, given a chance in his more natural position.
LB) Alberto Moreno
Moreno needs time on the pitch in his actual position if he is to fulfil his full potential. While he has proved himself a more than useful option on the left of midfield so far this season, that’s not what we bought him for and that’s not where he should be spending all of his time.
CB) Kolo Toure
The veteran defender will likely be one of the first names on the teamsheet here as he provides experience to an otherwise young side. He’ll be a decent bet for captain as well if Rodgers chooses to rest both James Milner and Jordan Henderson.
CB) Dejan Lovren
After his horror show against West Ham it would be incredible to think of Lovren keeping his place for the next Premier League game, especially with Mamadou Sakho waiting in the wings. If that predicted switch in the pecking order does go ahead this month, then the Croatian will have to try and prove himself here.
CM) Emre Can
Can needs to grab any opportunity that becomes available to him as he attempts to establish himself as our first choice in the centre of midfield. He’s made decent progress thus far but this competition could be a real opportunity for him to shine in his favoured position.
CM) Joe Allen
The Welshman hasn’t featured at all so far this season due to injury and this could be a good competition to give him a gentle way back into the first-team set up. He’s very much our fourth choice midfielder at the moment and he’ll need to put in some good performances in order to start moving back up again.
RW) Jordon Ibe
After a stunning pre-season campaign, it’s not been the best of starts to the Premier League season for Jordon Ibe, who has been largely frustrated by the opposition defenders who he’s come up against thus far – culminating in him losing his place in the team against Arsenal and West Ham. A chance to get back to his best here.
AM) Roberto Firmino
The Brazilian needs the games to come thick and fast as he continues to adapt to life in English football. This is a prime opportunity to rest Coutinho and play his compatriot in his favoured number ten position just behind the main central striker.
LW) Divock Origi
Origi is still waiting for his competitive debut in a Liverpool shirt, having been an unused substitute for each of our first four league games. This has to be the competition where he makes his mark, even if Brendan Rodgers is forced to push him out wide to accommodate our likely formation.
ST) Danny Ings
Ings showed plenty of promise during his brief cameo last time out and will be hoping that this is where he’ll get the chance to show what he can do from the start. Of course, he’ll still have to work hard to prove that he deserves such a chance, with Daniel Sturridge also likely to be targeting such games to help with his injury comeback.
Scroll down for formation teamsheet
