Liverpool return to Premier League action with a tricky opening trip to North London to face Tottenham on Sunday afternoon.
Last season Rafa Benitez’s men lost just twice, one of those was here at White Hart Lane having dominated possession at 1-0 up courtesy of Dirk Kuyt’s early goal. But having failed to kill the game off Jamie Carragher’s own goal and Roman Pavlyuchenko’s late winner gave Harry Redknapp’s new team the win.
Rafa Benitez has a defensive crisis ahead of the trip which sees former Liverpool strikers Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch in opposition. Both Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger have missed large amounts of the pre-season, while Jamie Carragher limped out of the 2-1 defeat to Atletico Madrid last weekend. Benitez though remains confident at least 2 of the 3 will be available, thus avoiding having to give a League debut to Martin Kelly, Mikel San Jose or Daniel Ayala – who have all featured heavily in pre-season.
Summer signing Glen Johnson will make his full debut for the club, while fellow new boy Alberto Aquilani is sidelined with an ankle injury meaning the in-form Lucas will line-up alongside Javier Mascherano in midfield.
Liverpool Team News
Doubtful: Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger
Ruled out: Alberto Aquilani (ankle), Nabil El Zhar (knee), Fabio Aurelio (knee), Albert Riera (ankle)
Likely starting 11: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel/Agger, Insua, Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun, Torres
Kick off 4pm, live on Sky Sports (UK).
Premier League Fixtures: Week 1
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Aston Villa v Wigan, 15:00
Blackburn v Man City, 15:00
Bolton v Sunderland, 15:00
Chelsea v Hull, 12:45
Everton v Arsenal, 17:30
Portsmouth v Fulham, 15:00
Stoke v Burnley, 15:00
Wolverhampton v West Ham, 15:00
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Man Utd v Birmingham, 13:30
Tottenham v Liverpool, 16:00
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