How Liverpool Will Line Up Against Hull City
The late avoidance of a Merseyside derby defeat is enough to keep the feel-good factor going at Liverpool, who will now seek to prolong that feeling on Sunday's trip to Hull City.
The thrilling 3-3 draw at Everton will go down as one of the greatest derby matches in the long history of the fixture, but after the drama of Goodison Park comes three fixtures that Liverpool will expect to win in their challenge to keep up with the teams at the top.
Home matches against Norwich and West Ham come next week, but before that, this trip to Steve Bruce's men brings with it a perfect opportunity to pick up three points.
In 16 meetings between the Reds and the Tigers dating back to 1954, Hull have never once managed to win the fixture.
Brendan Rodgers will expect to at least keep that run going, and perhaps he'll decide to make a couple of changes to his team in his efforts to do so.
Simon Mignolet
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It isn't often that a goalkeeper turns in one of his more impressive appearances for his club whilst also conceding three goals, but Mignolet managed that against Everton.
The Belgian repeatedly denied the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Gerard Deulofeu during the Merseyside derby chaos, and without his heroics the Reds would surely have lost.
He'll have his heart set on a quieter afternoon at the KC Stadium, where Liverpool recorded a 3-1 win and a goalless draw on their Premier League visits during the Tigers' previous stints in the top flight.
Glen Johnson
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Part of the back line that suffered against Everton's power last weekend, Johnson will be determined to help shore things up against a team who have struggled to find the net all season, and even drew a blank at home to Crystal Palace last week.
As always, Johnson was a threat going forward at Goodison, with his bursts forward and precise passing troubling the hosts.
With Liverpool looking to get on the front foot in Yorkshire, his influence could be crucial again.
Martin Skrtel
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Back from the dead to seemingly establish himself as Liverpool's first-choice centre-back, Skrtel didn't have his finest hour against Everton but should start again.
The Slovakian will be expecting an easier time against Steve Bruce's side and will be hoping to play a part in a fifth league clean sheet of the season.
If he can do that the Reds will expect to take the three points.
Mamadou Sakho
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One of the changes from the Everton game could see Mamadou Sakho return in place of Daniel Agger.
The Frenchman has been left out of the two league games that fell either side of his heroics in helping his country qualify for the World Cup, and the concession of three goals at Everton could lead to a recall.
Agger hasn't done anything particularly wrong, but in Sakho, Liverpool have a defender who has impressed many since joining the club in the summer and deserves to be in the team more often than not.
Jon Flanagan
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After a defeat at Arsenal and a draw at Everton, perhaps Flanagan's third Liverpool appearance of the season will result in a win?
The local lad did well in the Merseyside derby, and with fitness and form concerns blighting both Jose Enrique and Aly Cissokho respectively, the 20-year-old has a great chance to maintain a run in the first team.
His sudden inclusion has perhaps been the surprise of the month for Liverpool, but he rewarded the faith that Rodgers put in him with a solid display at Goodison, and he can back that up again here.
Lucas Leiva
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Without a couple of trademark last gasp Lucas interceptions, things could have gotten a lot stickier for Liverpool at Everton.
The Brazilian did his usual job of mopping up at Goodison Park before being sacrificed for Daniel Sturridge with the score at 2-2, and he's likely to have a similar job to do in a match where all bar him and the two centre-backs will be looking to get forward.
Lucas will be crucial in Liverpool's battle to control the midfield at the KC Stadium, something that, if they do, they'll be a long way towards winning the match.
Steven Gerrard
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Gerrard's set pieces played a key role in Liverpool's first and third goals at Goodison and came off the back of him being involved in all four strikes in the big win over Fulham.
Rather like his role with England over the past few years, his prowess with a dead ball is becoming a greater weapon in this Liverpool side and shows that, whilst he might not be able to bomb around the pitch in the manner he used to, he is still a leading light for his side.
The captain will lead his team out again against Hull and will hope to build on the three Anfield goals he's scored against them in his career.
Jordan Henderson
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Liverpool's marathon man stretched this season's 100 percent league appearance record into a 12th game at Everton, and he should pass a third of the campaign having played in every possible Premier League minute here.
Whilst that record might be perfect, one that needs improving is his goal output.
If he can get in the box and seek to profit from his opponents' attacking play here, then a long overdue strike could come for a man who nonetheless continues to take the plaudits for his work in other areas.
Philippe Coutinho
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Coutinho's first goal of the season last weekend was well taken, and, ahead of the little Brazilian's first ever visit to Hull, he looks to be regaining some of the form he showed when he first joined the Reds.
The 21-year-old seems to thrive with an increased amount of responsibility placed upon him, and he'll once again be looked to to link the midfield and attack and provide that little bit of fantasy he is able to bring to any game.
Keeping him fit must remain a priority for Rodgers and Liverpool.
Luis Suarez
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With nine goals in seven league games this season, Suarez is currently matching an entire squad of Tottenham players who've managed to score nine in 12.
His free-kick against Everton was yet another example of how he's mastered the art, and the Uruguayan will once again be the man to watch on an afternoon when only the brave (or stupid) would back against him to score.
Look out Hull, there's a hurricane heading your way.
Daniel Sturridge
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After starting on the bench at Everton, it looked as though Sturridge's run of having never gone three games without a goal for Liverpool was going to come to an end. Not so.
The late header which silenced the home fans inside Goodison Park was one of the sweetest moments of the Reds' season, and it's a no-brainer that Sturridge will return to the Reds side that starts the game at the KC Stadium.
He'll once again bring his usual goal threat with him, and will be a key man in the challenge to tame the Tigers.
Ready in Reserve
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Joe Allen will have relived his Merseyside derby miss for over a week now, but he had a tidy game at Goodison and will only miss out at the weekend due to the return of Sturridge.
Victor Moses is another who could have found the net late on, but his early promise in a red shirt now seems to have given way to the role of a hopeful super sub, and he'll again be on the bench by the banks of the River Humber.
Should, as predicted, Mamadou Sakho return to the Reds side then we'll see a disappointed Daniel Agger drop to the bench, where he could sit amongst the likes of Kolo Toure, Raheem Sterling and Luis Alberto, who has played for a combined 81 minutes in the league so far this season. But he could be introduced should Liverpool get into a comfortable position and look to rest some of their stars for the challenges ahead.
How the Lineup Will Look
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A return for Sturridge then, and perhaps a more surprising one for Sakho.
Even if the Frenchman misses out, it looks as though Liverpool will again revert to their tried and tested four-man defence and not the three centre-back system that was seen for a period at the beginning of the season.
Going forward, Gerrard, Coutinho and Henderson will be crucial in looking to provide support to Suarez and Sturridge, who, with 18 of Liverpool's 24 Premier League goals between them this season will, once again prove a menace to the home defence.
Hull will be desperate to improve following last weekend's shock home defeat to Crystal Palace, but against this Liverpool side they will find it tough to impose themselves.
That said, the Tigers have conceded only two goals in their six home league games this season.
Liverpool might have to wait to break them down, but with this lineup they should be picking up the three points.
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