Liverpool travel to Hull on Sunday, before home games against Norwich and West Ham next Wednesday and Saturday. Henry Jackson looks at five fringe players who could enhance their first team chances in the coming week.
VICTOR MOSES
The on-loan Chelsea man has dropped down the pecking order since Philippe Coutinho‘s return from injury, but is sure to feature heavily at some point during the next three games.
The 22-year-old has been an astute signing by Brendan Rodgers, adding much-needed pace and trickery to the squad. With Coutinho still slightly lacking match sharpness, Moses is an excellent option to have should the Brazilian be rested.
MAMADOU SAKHO
Since Rodgers moved away from the 3-4-1-2 formation and back to the 4-3-3, Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel have been the preferred option at the back.
Sakho will want to be given the chance to show he can become a regular at Anfield, and it seems likely he will start one of these games. The likelihood is that it will be for Agger, as both are left-footed, left sided centre-backs.
The 23-year-old showed his pedigree in France’s vital play-off win against Ukraine, and will be raring to go if he is called upon.
KOLO TOURE
Such is Liverpool’s strength in the centre of defence at the moment, Toure, along with Sakho, is having to make do with a place on the bench.
Despite the Ivorian’s excellent form at times this season he was signed as a squad player, and will be accepting of that. Agger and Skrtel are not absolutely nailed down to be first choice, however, and if the 32-year-old is given a chance in one of the games he will want to show Rodgers he merits being a starter.
One of the home games would be perfect to give Toure a bit of playing time, allowing Skrtel a night off.
JOE ALLEN
Allen was doing so well in last weekend’s Merseyside derby, but as soon as THAT miss happened his confidence looked shot to pieces.
There is no doubting that the Welshman has not justified his big-money move to the Reds at all yet, and he needs to start producing if he is to remotely live up to his ‘Welsh Xavi’ reputation. That said, it is clear that Allen is a talented player; he just needs more game time.
Steven Gerrard needs a rest without a doubt, and it will be very surprising if he starts all three games in the next seven days.
Liverpool should be guaranteed the majority of possession in all of these games, and Allen’s main strength is ball retention. A full 90 minutes should hopefully do him a world of good.
LUIS ALBERTO
The 21-year-old Spaniard has been very much restricted to a bit-part role this season, making just six appearances. With the midfield trio of Lucas, Gerrard and Jordan Henderson all virtual ever-presents this season, Rodgers should think about freshening things up.
Alberto clearly has excellent technical ability, but he needs a few more games to adjust to the physicality of the Premier League. The match with Norwich shouldn’t be a particularly testing one on a physical level, and giving him the chance to shine would do him the world of good.
How would rotate the side over the next three matches, if at all?
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