The FC Sion game provides Jurgen Klopp a dilemma. We’ve qualified, and only need a draw against the Swiss to top the group – which will give us a theoretically easier draw in the Last 32.
If Sion beat us though, we could draw one of the third placed Champions League sides – so it’s not a completely free, experimental game for the German.
Still, even our rotation players should have enough for Sion, and we think Klopp should rest the stars he wants to play in the Premier League next weekend.
(We’d have loved to see Joao Teixeira get a runout, but the Portuguese isn’t eligible for selection, sadly.)
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Jordan Rossiter
The teenage midfielder hasn’t played under Jurgen Klopp yet, but he’s fit again and if selected, will allow the manager to leave Lucas at home. Rossiter plays as a holding, controlling midfielder, and judging by the performances of the players in this position against Newcastle, it’s an area we’re still lacking in. The 18-year-old played the home leg against FC Sion and was one of our better players, so it would be great if he could develop and improve until he reaches a level where he’s a genuine selection consideration for all competitions. His hunger and appetite is admirable, but his talent shouldn’t be scoffed at either. Rossiter’s a sweet passer and could help us maintain possession away from home.
Divock Origi
Surely Origi is a ‘must- start’ for this one? The Belgian played the full game against Southampton in the League Cup last week, and bagged a memorable perfect hat-trick. Dropping him for the Newcastle tie proved a mistake, as Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino were dreadful, and the youngster needs to be given another opportunity to show what he can do. He made Adam Lallana’s opening goal in the reverse fixture, but we’d back him to find the net himself if he got the nod. We’re pretty sure he’ll get another call-up.
Jordan Henderson
We want to see Henderson starting a match now. He featured from the bench against Swansea and Southampton, but wasn’t used at Newcastle – in what was perhaps another slight selection error from Klopp. (Easy to judge in hindsight, of course.) We’re assuming our captain will eventually be one the first names on the team-sheet, but he now needs match fitness, which he’ll only generate through starting games. Emre Can will be fresh having missed the Newcastle game through suspension, but we’d rather the German, now crucial, was saved for the weekend.
Connor Randall
Randall must play so that either Nathaniel Clyne or Alberto Moreno can get a rest, simply. He played at right-back for the 6-1 Southampton mauling, but still looked a little out of his depth. The young Englishman won’t have a player of Dusan Tadic’s level to deal with though, and with our fullback options limited, Klopp must allow one of his first-choice pair a rest. If Randall does start, Moreno or Clyne could play on the left – or even Brad Smith could get a run out due to his homegrown status.
Christian Benteke
The Belgian powerhouse could play alongside his younger countryman Origi. Benteke’s had good moments for Liverpool, but there’s a worrying feeling that his style just doesn’t complement his team-mates. The best way to test this is to give him games alongside a hard-working, rapid team-mate such as Origi. The £32.5m forward has scored five goals in total for us, but it’s more contribution to our overall play we’d now like to see. The FC Sion game should give him an another opportunity, but allow Firmino a rest so he can play alongside Coutinho for the Baggies tie.
