Hearts vs. Liverpool: Picking a Starting XI for the Reds' Europa League Clash

Liverpool have an early chance to rid themselves of the memory of a 3-0 Premier League defeat against West Brom last weekend with the Europa League playoff fixture against Scottish outfit Hearts.

Two fixtures against Hearts stand between Liverpool and the group stages of the tournament, with the first leg to be played in Tyncastle on Thursday.

The Reds have left the likes of Glen Johnson, Steven Gerrard, Luis Suarez and Martin Skrtel behind as manager Brendan Rodgers bids to give some of his younger and squad players a run out in competitive action.

Here is the likely starting XI for Liverpool in the Europa League match.

Goalkeeper: Pepe Reina

Not much competition here; Brad Jones is Liverpool's backup stopper, but Pepe Reina will continue in goal.

If Liverpool rack up a big first leg score, then the Australian might get his chance in the second leg back at Anfield, but Hearts will have to face Reina first of all.

Fullbacks: Jon Flanagan and Jack Robinson

With Jose Enrique still suffering with an injury and Glen Johnson left out of the traveling squad, chances should fall to two of Liverpool's youngsters to occupy the fullback positions.

Jon Flanagan has been starved of first-team opportunities since featuring in the team at the back end of 2010-11 and faces big competition from Martin Kelly as well as Johnson, so he needs to take this chance to show his worth.

For Robinson, Liverpool's youngest ever player, he should see more game time this season with Jose Enrique the only other left-back in the squad.

He performed well in preseason and should show enough quality to warrant starting future Premier League matches.

Centre Backs: Sebastian Coates and Daniel Agger

Following his red card against West Brom, Daniel Agger will miss Liverpool's Premier League fixture against Manchester City with a one-game suspension.

As such, he should be fine to feature against Hearts, lending some real quality and experience to an otherwise-young defensive quartet.

Alongside him, Sebastian Coates should make his first Reds appearance of the season after missing most of the preseason programme on Olympic duty with Uruguay.

Central Midfielders: Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Jonjo Shelvey

Liverpool should make a couple of changes in the middle of the park against Hearts.

Lucas has played several games in a row now and should get a chance to rest following his long-term injury, but Joe Allen will keep his place.

Alongside him, Jordan Henderson needs a full 90 minutes to show what he's capable of in Rodgers' system, and he should be comforted by the knowledge he will rarely, if ever, be required to feature on the right flank in this 4-3-3 system.

Ahead of the two of them, Jonjo Shelvey has proven in his spells in the team this summer that he is up for the challenge of securing a first-team berth in a big way this season.

He will provide the attacking thrust of the team and look to link up with the forwards.

Wide Forwards: Fabio Borini and Raheem Sterling

Brendan Rodgers doesn't have huge numbers at his disposal for the final third; with Suarez left behind, Joe Cole injured yet again and Oussama Assaidi cup tied until the group stages, it looks like Fabio Borini will be required to start on one flank—but youngster Raheem Sterling could get his first competitive start for the Reds.

Borini might be required to play on the right for this game to let Sterling play from the left, where he is more comfortable cutting inside rather than attempting to cross from the opposite flank.

However, expect them to interchange during the course of the match.

Centre Forward: Andy Carroll

It's perhaps hit or miss whether Carroll plays, but one thing is sure: If he doesn't, don't expect him to feature much at all for the Reds this season.

Liverpool have no reason not to play him; short of starting Stewart Downing on one flank and playing Fabio Borini as a striker, they have no further options in the final third.

Carroll being cup-tied shouldn't be an issue for the Reds to take into account at this stage; other teams have had their chance to mount a serious bid for him if they want him, and none have, with the exception of West Ham, who do not partake in European competition anyway.

If he does start, Carroll needs to show work ethic, quality on and off the ball and, perhaps most importantly, goals if he really wants to have an impact on the first team for the Reds this season.

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