LFC Line-up v Cardiff: Philippe Coutinho in for Raheem Sterling

Brendan Rodgers has switched Raheem Sterling for Philippe Coutinho in his Liverpool starting line-up for Saturday afternoon’s Premier League trip to Cardiff City.

CARDIFF, WALES - Saturday, March 22, 2014: Cardiff City Stadium pictured before the Premiership match between Cardiff City and Liverpool. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Cardiff City Stadium pictured before the Premier League match between Cardiff City and Liverpool. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The change is a reverse of last week’s Liverpool team, when the Reds beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford. Prior to that, Coutinho had started ahead of Sterling in the 3-0 win at Southampton.

The Brazilian will play in a central role behind forwards Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel continue to be Rodgers’ first-choice central defensive partnership, despite the return of Mamadou Sakho from injury, whilst Joe Allen starts ahead of Lucas Leiva alongside captain Steven Gerrard in midfield.

Three points for Liverpool can take them three points clear of third place Arsenal, who lost heavily at Chelsea earlier on Saturday.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Agger, Skrtel, Gerrard, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Suarez, Sturridge.

Substitutes: Jones, Sakho, Cissokho, Lucas, Moses, Sterling, Aspas.

Cardiff: Marshall; Fabio, Theophile-Catherine, Caulker (C), Cala, John; Medel, Kim, Mutch; Bellamy, Campbell.

Substitutes: Lewis; Turner, Whittingham, Jones, Gunnarsson, Daehli, Zaha.

Cardiff City v Liverpool gets underway at 3pm and is not on TV in the UK. Match highlights are on BBC One’s Match of the Day from 10.30pm.

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