Venue: Anfield Date: Monday 11th February Kick-Off: 8pm
Team News
Ahead of the game, there's a question mark hanging over Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge, who was forced to pull out of England's midweek friendly with Brazil at Wembley thanks to a thigh problem, and will be assessed. Brendan Rodgers will no doubt hope for the kind of miraculous recovery that allows Manchester United and Arsenal's injured international players to suddenly perk up after a friendly they were supposed to play is over. Raheem Sterling, who also pulled out of the squad, is also fit, while Rodgers might welcome new Brazilian signing Philippe Coutinho into his first team, after his first week of training. He may need some time after a delayed start to his Liverpool career. West Brom will be without left-back Goran Popov who begins a three-match suspension for spitting at Tottenham defender Kyle Walker, but midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu is in contention to return after a knee injury that has sidelined him since New Year's day. There's no news yet on the role (if any) want-away striker Peter Odemwingie might play, after he became the butt of all transfer window jokes thanks to the collapse of a last minute deadline day move to QPR, who definitely had nothing to do with his appearance at the ground.
Match Preview
Brendan Rodgers welcomes former Liverpool assistant manager Steve Clarke back to Anfield, and will be looking to avenge his team's opening day defeat by West Brom. That day went particularly poorly for Liverpool, with both Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel at fault for the display, but Rodgers will hope his defence is stronger this time out. Jamie Carragher is likely to start for Liverpool, despite announcing his intention to retire at the end of the season, against skipper Steven Gerrard's wishes, according to
the MailOnline. If Liverpool are serious about trying to come fourth this season, they will need to start picking up more points immediately, with the team currently sitting in 8th place. West Brom meanwhile have enjoyed a good season, and are just two points behind Liverpool in ninth, though their form in recent weeks has been wobbly. They will hope they can emulate last season's shock 1-0 result at Anfield to leapfrog the Reds and get their own season back on track.
Likely Line-Ups
Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique; Henderson, Lucas; Sturridge, Gerrard, Downing; Suárez.
West Brom: Foster; Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Jones; Dorrans, Mulumbu, Morrison, Brunt; Lukaku, Long.
Referee: Jon Moss.
Source:The Telegraph.