Brendan Rodgers will have a number of important decisions to make ahead of Sunday’s decisive trip to Stamford Bridge, where we’ll be facing Premier League champions Chelsea.
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It will certainly be interesting to see how many changes we opt to make from last weekend’s victory against Queens Park Rangers. Alberto Moreno, Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen and Jordon Ibe were all left among the substitutes at Anfield, while Mario Balotelli – who missed that game with a foot injury – is also due back.
In fact, the only absentees are likely to be Mamadou Sakho – who has been missing since the FA Cup win over Blackburn Rovers in April – as well as Daniel Sturridge and Jon Flanagan, who will both be out until next season.
Here’s how we think we’ll line-up:
GK) Simon Mignolet
The Belgian will be looking to add to his impressive tally of 14 clean-sheets so far this season. He currently leads the Premier League’s ‘Golden Glove’ standings and only needs one more to guarantee himself first place.
RB) Emre Can
After a couple of off-weeks, Can has looked back to his normal self in recent games. He scored his first Liverpool goal against Chelsea back in November and would no doubt love to double his tally for the Reds here on Sunday.
CB) Martin Skrtel
With Diego Costa a possible absentee, the Slovakian is going to have to wait and see who he’ll be up against come Sunday afternoon. Whoever it proves to be, he’ll have to be at his best to ensure that the Reds get the right result.
CB) Dejan Lovren
The Croatian comes into this one having finally started a run of games. He’s looked decent over the last month as well, inspiring a couple of clean-sheets. This will be a big test of abilities and will prove exactly how far he’s come.
LB) Glen Johnson
It’s hard to guess who will get the nod between Johnson and Moreno. What might work in Johnson’s favour is that his teammate hasn’t featured in any competition since mid-April. This is a big game to come back in for.
DM) Lucas Leiva
The standard of opposition means that we’re unlikely to play Coutinho, Sterling, Lallana and Lambert from the start. We’ve gone with Lucas to sure up the midfield and provide the cover that will allow the full-backs to push on.
CM) Jordan Henderson
His work-rate will need to be as strong as ever. Whatever team Chelsea plays, they’re blessed with a lot of impressive options in the middle of the park. Henderson will need to be everywhere, clearing up the pieces.
CM) Steven Gerrard
There’s going to be no keeping Gerrard out of this one. He’ll only have two games left in his Liverpool career after this one and this will be his last game against one of his biggest rivals. Can he produce something memorable?
AM) Adam Lallana
He was excellent against Rangers last weekend and will be looking to back that up with a performance on the big stage. He’ll have Jordon Ibe breathing down his neck for a spot in the team but we expect Lallana to edge ahead.
AM) Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian was brilliant again last weekend, scoring the first and providing the cross for the second. Now he needs to do the same again at Chelsea. He’s so often the man for the big occasion, will he be so again here?
ST) Raheem Sterling
Sterling enjoyed some joy playing through the middle against the Blues in the League Cup earlier this year, scoring our only goal. He’s a lot more mobile than Rickie Lambert and unfortunately the No.9’s heading back to the bench.
