Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has sprung a few surprises with his team selection for today's Premier League clash with Stoke City, and at first glance, defence appears to be the biggest gamble.
FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Milner, Lallana, Ibe, Coutinho, Benteke
SUBS: Bogdan, Toure, Firmino, Moreno, Can, Origi, Ings
STOKE: Butland; Johnson, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan (c), Adam; Walters, van Ginkel, Afellay; Diouf
A few points:
* It makes sense for Markovic to be left out of the squad, but Sakho? The France international is not injured, and this can only mean one things: Sakho is probably leaving the club before the end of the transfer window.
* Gomez selected over Moreno. In my view, this is a mistake, but if Rodgers sees Moreno as a squad player this season, then so be it. It's a bit of a humiliation for the Spaniard, though.
* As expected, Rodgers favourite Adam Lallana makes the team, and there can be no hiding place this season. At the age of 27, Lallana is in the prime of his career, and he - like Milner - has to deliver from the get-go.
* Many fans will be nervous about the inclusion of Lovren. Add that to yet another unsettled back-four (in the sense the unit has rarely played together), and it could be a cause for concern. Plus, there's no dedicated defensive-midfielder, which means one of either Hendo or Milner is going to have be more disciplined than usual.
* No Teixeira on the subs bench? Disappointing, and just goes to show that Rodgers doesn't rate him. No matter how well the Portuguese does, he will not get a chance. Suso Mk2.
PREDICTION LEAGUE:
* 0-0: Charlie
* 1-0: MalJames, Peter_Maxwell, Kibur Semachew, FdotM, gilstrap, stipe
* 1-1: Stuart C, Lawro
* 2-0: Rich Seizer, Richard Massey, Salim, Kingsultan69, lsh, Walter, Fowler 09, pocky, nick1811, Chirag Vyas
* 2-1: enayat, Akhigbemudu Lucky, Y.O., 50+yrs kopite, romper, Shot callin OG, Not You, nX3lemZ, George W, Great hair, dancenever, Adam, Selvam Arjunan, DAROVAR, SidLFC, Inam, Ash, SGMM, lfcjai, DanDifiknow
* 2-2: Logan, JaimieK, Greg
* 3-0: Benji, Nugget25, gandharv
* 3-1: Weiz, Texas Red, MICK THE RED, Coodakay, David Cannon, cash, Eric, Ivor Biggen, Ghost Rider, Peter BIDsley, #lfc, Ghost of Suarez, JockInTheKop, Ashlee, hawthorn, Jonathan Capozzola, Livi, Johnny Bailey, Razen, orme, Jorge, DaBandit
* 3-2: chris, Jensen Huddleston
* 3-3: imoff
* 4-1: Case, NonEventHorizon, Donkey Kong
* 4-0: LFC4Life, Mkp
* 4-2: Timp1204
* 6-1: Mike Kennedy
* 2-1 Stoke: gene, Wayne, Dion Martin
Author: Jaimie K
FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Lovren, Gomez, Henderson, Milner, Lallana, Ibe, Coutinho, Benteke
SUBS: Bogdan, Toure, Firmino, Moreno, Can, Origi, Ings
STOKE: Butland; Johnson, Cameron, Muniesa, Pieters; Whelan (c), Adam; Walters, van Ginkel, Afellay; Diouf
A few points:
* It makes sense for Markovic to be left out of the squad, but Sakho? The France international is not injured, and this can only mean one things: Sakho is probably leaving the club before the end of the transfer window.
* Gomez selected over Moreno. In my view, this is a mistake, but if Rodgers sees Moreno as a squad player this season, then so be it. It's a bit of a humiliation for the Spaniard, though.
* As expected, Rodgers favourite Adam Lallana makes the team, and there can be no hiding place this season. At the age of 27, Lallana is in the prime of his career, and he - like Milner - has to deliver from the get-go.
* Many fans will be nervous about the inclusion of Lovren. Add that to yet another unsettled back-four (in the sense the unit has rarely played together), and it could be a cause for concern. Plus, there's no dedicated defensive-midfielder, which means one of either Hendo or Milner is going to have be more disciplined than usual.
* No Teixeira on the subs bench? Disappointing, and just goes to show that Rodgers doesn't rate him. No matter how well the Portuguese does, he will not get a chance. Suso Mk2.
PREDICTION LEAGUE:
* 0-0: Charlie
* 1-0: MalJames, Peter_Maxwell, Kibur Semachew, FdotM, gilstrap, stipe
* 1-1: Stuart C, Lawro
* 2-0: Rich Seizer, Richard Massey, Salim, Kingsultan69, lsh, Walter, Fowler 09, pocky, nick1811, Chirag Vyas
* 2-1: enayat, Akhigbemudu Lucky, Y.O., 50+yrs kopite, romper, Shot callin OG, Not You, nX3lemZ, George W, Great hair, dancenever, Adam, Selvam Arjunan, DAROVAR, SidLFC, Inam, Ash, SGMM, lfcjai, DanDifiknow
* 2-2: Logan, JaimieK, Greg
* 3-0: Benji, Nugget25, gandharv
* 3-1: Weiz, Texas Red, MICK THE RED, Coodakay, David Cannon, cash, Eric, Ivor Biggen, Ghost Rider, Peter BIDsley, #lfc, Ghost of Suarez, JockInTheKop, Ashlee, hawthorn, Jonathan Capozzola, Livi, Johnny Bailey, Razen, orme, Jorge, DaBandit
* 3-2: chris, Jensen Huddleston
* 3-3: imoff
* 4-1: Case, NonEventHorizon, Donkey Kong
* 4-0: LFC4Life, Mkp
* 4-2: Timp1204
* 6-1: Mike Kennedy
* 2-1 Stoke: gene, Wayne, Dion Martin
Author: Jaimie K
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