Liverpool need to get through a play-off leg of the Europa League to qualify for the Group Stages. Including the two qualification rounds, that’s eight winnable matches we’re playing in 2015/16 on top of our domestic duties.
If we qualify from the group we can start taking it a little more seriously and see it as a chance of glory, but early on – it simply must be used as a chance to hone players and test the mettle of those struggling for minutes.
Based on who we think will be starting Premier League matches early on, here’s a possible Europa League XI – using the 4-3-3 formation Brendan Rodgers seems to be favouring right now.
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GK) Adam Bogdan
It’s quite possible that Simon Mignolet will play all matches when fit, but if Rodgers rates Bogdan, he’ll hope the Hungarian won’t let him down in the Europa League. He’s looked solid enough on the pre-season tour.
DR) Nathaniel Clyne
With Andre Wisdom leaving on loan, Clyne has no natural backup option in the squad until Jon Flanagan returns from injury. Joe Gomez can play here too of course, but we’re using him at left-back instead of Alberto Moreno in this Europa League lineup.
DC) Dejan Lovren
After strong pre-season form compared to Lovren’s shabby displays, Sakho is most fans’ favourite to start alongside Martin Skrtel in defence – meaning the £20m Croat could be restricted early on to chances in the lesser European competition.
DC) Kolo Toure
If Tiago Ilori leaves on loan, which looks likely (although it saddens us), Toure will be the natural Europa League (and League Cup) candidate. His experience should help us negotiate the early rounds.
DL) Joe Gomez
We can’t see Jose Enrique getting much of a sniff at Liverpool if he’s still around by the end of the transfer window – and would love to see youngster Gomez getting as much opportunities as possible considering his excellent performances Down Under.
DMC) Lucas
Hoping that Emre Can nails down the starting spot in Brendan Rodgers’ first-choice XI, Lucas could be utilised as his primary backup option. The Brazilian has the discipline and experience to provide a more than solid midfield platform.
MC) Joe Allen
Allen’s tidy and capable of helping us dominate possession in the early round of the Europa League. He’s unlikely to start in the midfield three in the Premier League due to Henderson and Milner occupying the advanced central spots ahead of the holding player.
MC) Joao Teixeira
The Portuguese starlet is 22-years-old now, and needs to be given minutes if he’s ever going to develop into a contributing member of our first-team squad. In this prospective side, he could provide the guile and creativity in midfield – given a freer role than Allen and Lucas alongside him.
AMRC) Jordon Ibe
Rodgers has claimed that Ibe will be given as many chances as possible this term to develop his incredible talent (via the Echo), so a guaranteed starting spot on the wing in Europe seems a good way to begin. With Firmino, Coutinho and Adam Lallana in the squad he has a job on his hands to automatically start top flight matches though, but the Europa League group stage will give him a terrific chance to hone his skills.
AMLC) Lazar Markovic
If Markovic isn’t given a proper chance in the Europa League then it shows the club is pretty much giving up on him. The Serbian is terrifically talented, but failed to prove it during his difficult debut season. To be fair, he was often used a wing-back, when his natural position is in a free role on the left where he can cut in.
FC) Danny Ings
The 23-year-old is desperate to prove himself capable of leading our line, and with Daniel Sturridge not back until October, this competition could give Ings the chance to show his running and finishing. The former Burnley man has been signed as backup, but his movement and clinical nature should see him as a serious upgrade on Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert.