After their promising performance last weekend, Liverpool will face Aston Villa this Sunday. Manager Brendan Rodgers will face trouble in this march as his star striker Daniel Sturridge will not be available for this match leaving him with some selection headache for the first time this season. He will have to make some permutation combination and change his diamond formation for this match.
We take a look at the probable Liverpool starting lineup that Rodgers might deploy for this match.
Simon Mignolet
There will be no change in the goalkeeper position. Mignolet has done enough to get selected against Villa and till Liverpool can get Valdes on a free transfer, Mignolet is the man.
Javier Manquillo
The young right back was extremely impressive last time around and his tender age was never felt in that match. He showed maturity and played with determination for Rodgers to consider him for a regular starting berth. He is sure to get the nod as Jon Flanagan and Glen Johnson are both suffering from injury.
Dejan Lovren
The first choice centre back for Brendan Rodgers, the former Southampton man has already become one of the key players of the squad. He has the defensive stability and will certainly improve as the season progresses.
Mamadou Sakho
With Martin Skrtel injured, Sakho is set to feature in the match. He has played for his national team France in the midweek and Rodgers has to consider the fatigue that the defender is likely to suffer. Still he would be the man for the Merseyside club this weekend.
Alberto Moreno
If there were a section of people who did not know him before the last match, they surely do not exist now, thanks to his solo goal against Spurs. A top notch performance has seen Moreno attain many admirers and Rodgers should have his trust on the youngster.
Jordan Henderson
Henderson may be asked to move deeper this weekend as Lallana may be introduced. The Englishman is a versatile player and he can be an able partner skipper Steven Gerrard in this position. His tremendous work ethic and sense of positioning will see him succeed at this position.
Steven Gerrard
The skipper will be paired alongside Henderson in the central midfield and the manager would trust him fully to give yet another top notch performance. Gerrard has been the ever reliable man for Liverpool and against Aston Villa he would again be expected to take the lead.
Adam Lallana
Lallana may be handed his debut in this match and he may be asked to play from the right side with Coutinho being deployed to the left.
Raheem Sterling
The youngster has been in sensational form recently and once again the team would rely on him heavily to produce some magic in front of the goal.
Phillipe Coutinho
If Lallana is handed the right berth, Coutinho is there to take care of the left side. The midweek game for Brazil must have given him a lot of confidence. However, new recruit Lazar Markovic is another option that Rodgers would think about.
Mario Balotelli
Last match did not prove to be too good a match for Balotelli as he got into position a lot but could not finish. He would like to change that in just his second match for the club.
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