Liverpool play host to struggling Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday night looking to close the gap on league leaders Chelsea at the top of the table with a win, and this is the starting lineup we expect Reds head coach Brendan Rodgers to go with against the Black Cats …
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GK: Simon Mignolet
The Belgium international has enjoyed a steady debut campaign on Merseyside after replacing fans’ favourite Jose Manuel Reina between the posts last summer following a £9m move from their opponents on Wednesday night.
RB: Glen Johnson
The always dependable Englishman has been in brilliant form on the right-hand side of the Reds’ back four ever since returning from injury recently, and Liverpool will be wanting more of the same from the full back against Sunderland in midweek.
CB: Daniel Agger
After letting in another three goals at struggling Cardiff City on the weekend, the Danish centre back’s position at the heart of the Reds’ back four may come under threat against Sunderland, although expect the Liverpool vice-captain to hold on to his starting spot for now.
CB: Martin Skrtel
What a campaign the shaven-headed Slovakia international skipper is currently enjoying, with two more goals to his name at Cardiff on Saturday to go alongside his rock-solid displays the back for the Merseyside giants.
LB: Jon Flanagan
The England Under-21 international had one of his more unconvincing performances as the Reds let in three goals in South Wales on the weekend, however, there is no chance of the versatile full back not keeping his place at left back against Sunderland though.
CM: Steven Gerrard
Still controlling matters from his new deep-lying midfield role stationed just in front of his side’s back four, while at the same time helping to provide assists and goals as well for the team cause in what has been a memorable campaign to date.
CM: Jordan Henderson
What a turnaround in fortunes the hard-working England international has enjoyed at Anfield of late, so much so that the energetic midfielder is now in line to go to this summer’s Fifa World Cup in Brazil with his country.
CM: Joe Allen
The Welshman has won his place back in the Reds’ midfield of late following the knee-ligament injury picked up by Lucas Leiva against Aston Villa in January, and the holding midfielder should just edge out the Brazilian when the Black Cats come to Anfield on Wednesday.
ST: Luis Suarez
The Premier League’s top scorer at present with 28 goals after registering his third hat-trick of the campaign at Cardiff last weekend, while the Uruguay attacker is also now on course to score the most amount of goals in a top-flight campaign.
ST: Daniel Sturridge
Like his strike partner Suarez, the England international is also currently enjoying a sensational and highly productive campaign in front of goal in what is the striker’s first full season with the Merseysiders.
ST: Raheem Sterling
The little England forward has also been in eye-catching form throughout much of this season, and it is expected that the flyer will replace Brazilian schemer Philippe Coutinho when the Black Cats arrive on Merseyside on Wednesday night.