Following Liverpool's unspectacular but worthy draw against Tottenham at the weekend, the team welcome Russian Football Premier League side Rubin Kazan to Anfield for the third Europa League group stage match, and new manager Jürgen Klopp's first home game since taking charge.
Tomorrows opposition currently lie 12th in their league having won their last match against FK Ural Sverdlovskaya Oblast (thankfully Ural for short!) to end a sequence of three losses in four games. So despite how it may appear, there are other teams in existence experiencing lesser fortunes than Liverpool. That said, you'd expect Klopp's rejuvenated side to be able to find a way past this opposition regardless of their new found confidence.
Indications are that Daniel Sturridge will not be available for selection, however Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Dejan Lovren are back in training and contention. Klopp indicated in his pre-match press conference today that they would not be starters which makes sense. It's likely that the same team that started against Tottenham will start tomorrow with perhaps two or three exceptions. Personally I'd like to see Jordan Ibe, Joe Allen or one of the other substitutes from the weekends game making the first eleven. Maybe even youngster Jerome Sinclair who was about to come on, on Saturday just as the final whistle went!
Small changes are likely given the game against Southampton on Sunday but the manager was clear to stress that rotation as often mentioned is "only an option when you have all the players available". That said, Ruben Kazan will be a totally different prospect to Tottenham with an accent on counter attacking football and early crosses into their tall forwards. This type of direct opposition has always posed problems for Liverpool so it should be a good test for the team. As things are, the lack of availability in the current squad means the team will pick itself out of necessity rather than an embarrassment of riches to choose from. If there's any justice in the world that will mean no place for Lovren.
Unfortunately, Jordan Rossiter won't be able to play for a few more weeks due to his hamstring injury and Klopp - quite rightly sounded his disappointment at his treatment at the hands of the national team. Three games in five days for an 18 year-old is "not okay" in the German's words which is 100% correct. In fact in those two words, he has summed up pretty much everything that's wrong with the English game. How the local lad, like so many before him fall foul to the rigours of the English football machine. As unforgiving as it is. And then we all complain that the national team never gets anywhere. Enough on that for now, already.
Liverpool have two points out of six to show for their Europa League Group B efforts so far this season which isn't exactly inspiring. Hopefully, with a few more days' training in the bag, the team will put in a performance to indicate more improvement and adaptation to what Klopp is requiring from them. Lot's of energy, pressing at the right time in the right areas and being wary of the counter-attack. "We must be very concentrated!" said the boss when asked about his game plan and how he wanted the team to play.
Let's see if the players can pick up where they left off at the weekend and end this first week of business for the new manager on a positive note. Let's get to work.
Follow Ben on Twitter @MrBengreen
Latest Forum Discussion