Confirmed lineup vs. WBFC: £33m trio dropped; big changes ahead? Surprise start for Balotelli

In a surprise move, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has named Mario Balotelli in the (league) starting line-up for the first time since in five months.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Can, Ibe, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Balotelli

SUBS: Jones, Toure, Manquillo, Lallana, Allen, Borini, Markovic

* Markovic, Moreno and Allen drop to the bench after the last game.

* Lambert doesn't even make the match-day squad.

* With no dedicated left-back in the team, there's a possibility that Rodgers will play Johnson at left-back and Can at right back, but hopefully that won't be the case, as Can is clearly not great at RB.

Possible formations:

-------------------- Mignolet

-------- Johnson ---- Skrtel ------ Lovren

Sterling ------ Can -------- Hendo ----- Ibe

-------------- Gerrard -- Coutinho

----------------- Balotelli

OR:

-------------------- Mignolet

Can ---------- Skrtel ------ Lovren ---- Johnson

Ibe --- Gerrard -------- Hendo ----- Sterling

------------------ Coutinho

----------------- Balotelli

OR:

-------------------- Mignolet

Can ---------- Skrtel ------ Lovren ---- Johnson

-------------Gerrard -------- Hendo

Ibe -------------- Coutinho ------------ Sterling

----------------- Balotelli

If Rodgers goes with 442, then Gerrard will inevitably be in midfield, which is often a mistake. It'll be interesting to see how the team set-up.

My prediction: 2-1 to West Brom

Author: Jaimie K