How Liverpool Will Line Up Against Norwich City
Reacting positively to a setback is always a sign of a good team, and Liverpool have a perfect chance to do just that at home to Norwich City on Wednesday.
The Reds were dismal in losing 3-1 to Hull City at the weekend, when they turned in undoubtedly their worst performance of the season as they failed to keep pace with the teams at the top of the Premier League table.
Yet Wednesday night provides them with the opportunity to bounce back.
Brendan Rodgers' side scored 10 goals on the way to beating Norwich home and away last season, while Luis Suarez has found the net seven times in his last three games against the Canaries.
In the absence of the injured Daniel Sturridge, the Uruguayan will assume an even greater importance, and maybe Rodgers should seek to make things as comfortable as possible for his main man.
Here, with a total of three changes from the KC Stadium, is how he could play it against Chris Hughton's side.
Simon Mignolet
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He's conceded six goals in his last two games, but it would be extremely harsh to blame Simon Mignolet for any of them.
The Belgian can blame the defenders in front of him for the errors that have led to the Reds taking only one point from the last six available, yet here he'll not just be targeting a win, he'll also be longing for a clean sheet.
He kept one in the last home game against Fulham, and with the Reds needing to tighten up at the back over the next two winnable fixtures, this could very well be another clean-sheet appearance for Mignolet.
Glen Johnson
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Hull swarmed all over Liverpool on Sunday, something that made it tough for Glen Johnson to get forward in his usual manner.
The full-back will expect to be on the front foot throughout this clash, though, and after he was excellent in the last home game against struggling Fulham, he'll be a vital part of the equation as Rodgers seeks to get the feel-good factor back around the club.
Johnson remains one of the best players at the club, and he can get back to proving that here.
Martin Skrtel
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It was difficult not to feel sorry for Martin Skrtel at Hull, where he was arguably the most impressive Liverpool player yet ended up as the most unlucky.
His was the final touch on both the first and third goals, but that shouldn't take attention away from the fact that he remains the most consistent of Liverpool's small army of central defenders this season.
The Hull game was his 11th consecutive start in the Premier League, and he should begin the game again this time around against opponents who have scored just three times in their six away games so far this campaign.
Daniel Agger
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Daniel Agger has played the full 90 minutes just five times in the Premier League this season, and Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in those games.
You can't really argue with numbers like that, and with Kolo Toure nursing a knock that he picked up in the Hull defeat, it would make sense that the Dane returned to the side here having been left on the bench for that loss at the KC Stadium.
His return would be welcomed by many too, and once he's got back in the team he'll be targeting a long run in it.
Jon Flanagan
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Youngster Jon Flanagan remains in possession of the left-back's shirt, but that might be down to the lack of options elsewhere.
Jose Enrique's injury and the patchy form of Aly Cissokho have given the Academy product this chance, and while he certainly deserves that opportunity, these are the sort of matches in which a stronger presence coming forward would certainly be a better fit.
Flanagan's game is still developing, though, and matches like this are only going to aid that.
Lucas Leiva
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The metronomic force at the heart of the Liverpool midfield, Lucas Leiva always plays whenever he is available.
The Brazilian will take his place at the heart of things again here and will once again be crucial as he seeks to lay the foundations for those ahead of him to get forward and attack.
Up against Norwich's impressive Leroy Fer and the consistent Jonny Howson, Lucas will have his work cut out but will be confident of dominating an area that Liverpool always seem to control in home matches, even if things can be a little different away from Anfield.
Steven Gerrard
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The free-kick he scored at Hull was Steven Gerrard's first goal for Liverpool that wasn't a penalty since his long-range strike in the draw at Manchester City in February.
In recent Reds matches, Gerrard's set-pieces have frequently been the route to goals, but here he'll be looking to be involved from open play as the Reds seek to get back to winning ways and perhaps seek to improve their goal difference after it suffered a blow at the weekend.
The skipper scored from long range in Liverpool's 5-0 win in this fixture last season, and if they can reach anything approaching that this time around then Sunday will be long forgotten.
Jordan Henderson
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A terrific strike from the edge of the box from Jordan Henderson was what kickstarted the 5-0 win in this fixture last season, and improving his goal output is one thing that he'll be desperate to do in this campaign too.
This time last year it would have been almost unthinkable that the midfielder would play in every minute of every one of Liverpool's league games, but he's done that in this campaign largely thanks to his energy levels and his ability to play to Rodgers' game plan.
One of the first names on this teamsheet for this game, he'll be relied upon by his manager to do that again.
Philippe Coutinho
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Injury meant that Philippe Coutinho was confined to an appearance from the substitutes' bench at the weekend, but Rodgers has confirmed on the club website that he's fit enough to start here.
The Brazilian playmaker is crucial to Liverpool in games such as these, with opponents who are likely to come to Anfield intent on sitting back needing to be broken down by skillful, incisive play.
Coutinho is capable of that kind of play and more, and getting him on the ball will be vital on an evening when the Reds are likely to have plenty of the ball.
Luis Suarez
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Norwich will be sick of the sight of Luis Suarez, who has bagged an astonishing seven goals in his last three games against them.
He's managed back-to-back hat-tricks on his only two appearances at Carrow Road, but here at Anfield he'll once again be vital as Liverpool look at him to provide the star quality that has won them games so many times before.
Against his favourite opponents, and without his partner Daniel Sturridge, the onus will be on the Uruguayan perhaps more so than it has been all season.
Iago Aspas
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Both Victor Moses and Raheem Sterling struggled at Hull, and so perhaps Rodgers would be better off looking to recreate the strike partnership that has served Liverpool so well this season, and that could mean a recall for Iago Aspas.
Injury has meant that the Spanish forward has featured for just three minutes in Liverpool's last eight games, but he was on the bench at Hull and could just have timed his comeback perfectly due to the now prolonged absence of Sturridge.
A difficult beginning to Liverpool life meant that supporters are still somewhat sceptical of the former Celta Vigo man, but the chance to play with Suarez could transform his fortunes, starting here.
Ready in Reserve
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It is safe to say that Victor Moses failed to take his chance to impress in the Hull loss, and as a result he could drop out of the side here with Coutinho fully fit and the potential of a start for Aspas.
Raheem Sterling is another who will have been frustrated by his fortunes at the KC Stadium, but like Moses he'll be a good option from the bench in this contest.
Joe Allen and Luis Alberto are others who could be turned to in order to change things or give team-mates a rest during a hectic period, while Kolo Toure's place on the bench will depend on whether or not he's fully fit.
How They'll Line Up
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So as discussed in the Aspas slide, picking the Spanish forward will allow the Reds to return to a strike partnership rather than leaving Suarez isolated up front on his own as he was at Hull.
Expecting the Suarez-Aspas union to be as successful as the Suarez-Sturridge partnership is likely to leave many feeling disappointed, but the former Celta Vigo man will at least act as another body upfront and one who can benefit from the midfield runs and passes of Coutinho and Henderson.
A change at the back should solidify things too, with Agger returning alongside Skrtel to form a double act that has served Liverpool well in the past.
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