9 Sept 2015

Bad news for Liverpool: 'Wonderful' £25m LFC star could miss Man Utd because of ongoing injury

After an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to West Ham, Liverpool need to get back to winning ways this weekend, and a victory against Manchester United is just the kind of galvanising result needed to get the club's season back on track. Philippe Coutinho is suspended for the game, which is a big blow, but new reports today suggest that 'wonderful' LFC captain Jordan Henderson is also likely to miss the game.

According to the Liverpool Echo:

"Henderson has responded positively to treatment on his heel injury [but] he remains a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford. Brendan Rodgers is also hoping that Lallana is passed fit for duty".

£25m-rated Henderson is not a world-beater, but as last season proved, he is Liverpool's biggest attacking threat from midfield, and without him, the Reds are utterly toothless in midfield areas.

As for Lallana, if Rodgers is 'hoping' that he'll be fit, then it almost certainly means he'll return to the starting line-up.

That may please some fans, but for me, based on his non-performance so far this season, Lallana barely deserves a place on the bench.

Like Sturridge, Liverpool Lallana is unreliable, and given his repeated injuries, he'll probably be subconsciously restricted on the field in a bid to avoid further issues.

Unfortunately, Lallana appears to be one of Rodgers' favourites, and given his £26m price tag, he'll probably be given endless chances to play his way into form.

If fit, Lallana should, in my view, stay on the bench. He's hardly likely to be match-fit, and he's already a lightweight, and Liverpool need physically committed players against Manchester United.


This probably won't matter to Rodgers, though, and if both Henderson and Lallana are fit, I expect to see the following team:

---------------- Mignolet
Clyne ---- Skrtel ---- Lovren -- Gomez
------------ Lucas -- Milner
---------------- Hendo
------- Lallana ------ Firmino
--------------- Benteke

That said, I have a sneaking suspicion that Rodgers may leave Firmino out of the starting line-up for Man United, and play Ibe in his place. After spending £29m on the Brazilian, that'll obviously be a ridiculous decision, but with Rodgers, you never can tell...

Author: Jaimie K


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