Is this the XI Liverpool will put out against West Ham today?
GK) Simon Mignolet
A guaranteed starter, Mignolet will hope to keep his fourth consecutive clean-sheet of the season.
DR) Nathaniel Clyne
Already an automatic selection, Clyne’s start to the campaign has been superb – and with no other available options at right-back, this spot is his even if his levels drop.
DL) Joe Gomez
Alberto Moreno is impressing during substitute cameo appearances, but Gomez has been so defensively solid that there’s no way he’ll get dropped yet. Expect the Spaniard to come on in the second half and stretch the game with his width and pace.
DC) Martin Skrtel
With no goals conceded, Brendan Rodgers will stick with the same back five. Skrtel is the leader of our defence and was arguably the Man of the Match versus Arsenal – heroic in the air.
DC) Dejan Lovren
Mamadou Sakho’s been dropped by the France squad because he isn’t playing for us, but until Lovren messes up, he’ll be out of the ferame for Liverpool as well – rightly or wrongly. West Ham have Andy Carroll, Enner Valencia, Mauro Zarate and maybe Diafra Sakho out – so his job will be easier.
MC) Lucas
Brendan Rodgers rarely changes a team too drastically following a positive result, and although we’re at home – Lucas could anchor a midfield three again, as he did against Arsenal. Jordon Ibe could come in for the Brazilian, leaving Milner and Can as a midfield two – but so poor was the teenager’s cameo at the Emirates, we think Rodgers will stick with Lucas.
MC) Emre Can
Jordan Henderson is still a major doubt, confirms the Independent, which means that at home to a beatable side, it’s unlikely he’ll be risked. This means Can, who’s just been called up by Germany, is a shoe-in for a start in the middle.
MC) James Milner
Milner will continue to skipper the side in Henderson’s absence, given more licence to get forward with Lucas holding. He was excellent against Arsenal, but we’d love to see some of his creative ability on show at Anfield.
AMR) Roberto Firmino
The Brazilian summer signing did well against Arsenal but tired, and was subsequently taken off early as a result. But after another week of training he’ll hopefully be a little sharper. Definitely deserves and needs another start.
AML) Coutinho
Coutinho could start from the left if we use this formation, but he’ll be given the licence to roam infield and either thread balls through West Ham’s defence or shoot on goal, with his curling right-foot strike. If he can consistently find space between their defence and midfield, he could be our match winner.
FC) Christian Benteke
Benteke ‘s been untouchable in the air so far, and we’d love him to mark his second Anfield start with his second Anfield goal. Reid and Ogbonna are good, physical centre-halves, but Benteke has their beating on his day.
