Despite the fact Brendan Rodgers really needs a positive result against Bordeaux tonight, he’s expected to rest some of the starters due to the crunch Premier League clash with Norwich on Sunday, claims the Telegraph.
The report reckons Christian Benteke, James Milner, Dejan Lovren, Martin Skrtel and Lucas won’t even travel – meaning with Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen still injured, we don’t have too many options in central midfield.
Here’s a side likely to be pretty close to the one that starts.
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GK) Adam Bogdan
The Hungarian should get the nod in the Europa League and the League Cup. If we progress well in both, he’ll feature regularly this season. If we don’t, he won’t.
DR) Joe Gomez
Clyne’s one of the players rested, so with Jon Flanagan a seemingly permanent absentee, Rodgers has only Joe Gomez – who needs a rest himself in truth – as a backup option.
DL) Alberto Moreno
The Spaniard is a certainty for his first start of the season in France. Joe Gomez will likely travel as a substitute for any of the defensive positions – while Moreno has a chance to earn himself a start at home to a beatable side in Norwich at the weekend if he performs to his ability.
DC) Mamadou Sakho
Finally the Frenchman is going to start a game this season, says the Echo. Sakho, nearly every Liverpool fan’s favourite centre-back, has been ostracised this term for no apparent reason, stuck behind Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren. Like Moreno, a strong performance could see him picked on Sunday – considering the aforementioned defenders have conceded six goals in the past two Premier League fixtures.
DC) Kolo Toure
During pre-season Rodgers partnered Sakho with the ageing Ivorian in a clear attempt to gel his backup centre-back pairing, and we expect Toure to play in France as a result. Will a clean-sheet persuade the manager that either or both should start in the Premier League…?
DMC) Jordan Rossiter
Lucas isn’t travelling, meaning the teenage Scouser might get his first start of the season, having already come on for a cameo against Arsenal. It’ll be a tough task away in France, but he’s got the work-rate to provide us a solid platform.
MC) Coutinho
Coutinho would not normally start Europa League matches, but we reckon he has a chance for three reasons: firstly, the fact he didn’t play at the weekend due to his suspension, secondly, because a win would seriously boost morale, and thirdly, because Milner and Lucas aren’t travelling. With Coutinho being our best player, he’d increase our chances of collecting three points. If not, he might come off the bench with half an hour to go – perhaps for Rossiter.
MC) Emre Can
Liverpool fans begged Rodgers to play Can in a midfield three before the season started, but he’s so far not proven us correct – looking lost and clumsy mostly. But as mentioned in the introduction, with Henderson, Milner and Allen out, Can should remain the only midfield constant.
AMR) Jordon Ibe
Ibe’s slow start to the season saw him demoted to the bench, but he’s likely to return at Bordeaux. He’s yet to register a goal or an assist this term, and his chances of winning back a regular spot in the team will dramatically boost if he can change that.
AML) Divock Origi
Adam Lallana is not 100%, while Roberto Firmino is another likely to be rested for the weekend – meaning Origi and Ibe are expected to flank a centre-forward. Both provide pace, power and trickery in abundance.
DC) Danny Ings
Ings started against Manchester United in a wide role and looked lost. With Benteke staying on Merseyside and Daniel Sturridge not ready to return yet, expect him to get the nod in his favoured central striking position.
