8 Nov 2015

Confirmed Liverpool Team: £56m-duo return; another injury blow; Klopp drops 'exciting' attacker after Kazan game

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has made several key changes for today's Premier League game with Crystal Palace at Anfield.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Clyne, Sakho, Skrtel, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Lallana, Ibe, Coutinho, Benteke.

SUBS: Bogdan, Lovren, Firmino, Allen, Origi, Brannagan, Teixeira.

PALACE: Hennessey; Kelly, Dann, Delaney (c), Souare; Zaha, Cabaye, McArthur, Puncheon; Sako, Bolasie.

* James Milner is injured for the game. This could be a blessing in disguise as it may give Emre Can a chance to impose himself on the game. If he's capable of doing so, that is, which I doubt.

* Benteke features in his third game for a week, which is a risk given his recent injury history. Hopefully, he'll come through the match unscathed, but even if he does pick up a niggle, he'll have two weeks to recover. It's a risk, but a qualified risk.

* Lucas comes back into the team. Allen played well against Rubin Kazan on Thursday, but Lucas is in great form at the moment, and it's hard to leave him out.

* 'Exciting' attacker Firmino is back on the bench, with Coutinho coming back into the starting XI. This makes sense given Coutinho's heroics against Chelsea.

* Lucas captains in the team in the absence of Milner. I still feel Rodgers erred in overlooking Lucas, Skrtel, and Sakho for the vice-captaincy.

Ibe deservedly keeps his place after scoring n Thursday. Hopefully he'll be able to build on that, and keep his momentum going.

Given the personnel, it looks like Klopp may revert to 4321:

--------------- Mignolet
Clyne ---- Skrtel --- Sakho ---- Moreno
------------- Can -- Lucas
Ibe ----------- Coutinho ------ Lallana
--------------- Benteke

If Klopp sticks with a 4321, it could mean Coutinho or Lallana dropping back into central midfield:

--------------- Mignolet
Clyne ---- Skrtel --- Sakho ---- Moreno
--------- Can -- Lucas -- Lallana
------------ Ibe ---- Coutinho
--------------- Benteke

PREDICTION LEAGUE

Please do not post predictions here. Scores should be posted in the pre-match thread.

Author: Jaimie K


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