Liverpool vs. Stoke City: How the Reds Should Line Up in Premier League Game

Since Stoke City last travelled to Anfield at the beginning of the 2013/14 season, Liverpool have embarked on a Premier League title pursuit and now dropped to the bottom half of the table after six defeats in their 12 games so far in 2014/15.

This fixture last season occurred on the opening day of the campaign. Liverpool saw off Mark Hughes' new side 1-0 thanks to a goal from Daniel Sturridge and a last-minute penalty save from Simon Mignolet.

Kolo Toure and Daniel Agger were the Reds centre-backs, keeping what would be the first of three consecutive clean sheets.

How times change.

There's plenty for Brendan Rodgers to consider ahead of this game, in what will be the team's third match in seven days.

Against Crystal Palace last Sunday, Rodgers' side began in a 4-1-2-1-2 (midfield diamond) formation, before switching to a 4-2-3-1 in the second half.

Against Ludogorets Razgrad in Bulgaria, they lined up in a 4-4-1-1 shape with Steven Gerrard behind Rickie Lambert in attack.

How the manager opts to shape his side will be crucial to determining his starting XI.

Per This Is Anfield, Rodgers has said he will employ the same squad he used against Ludogorets, which means no Mario Balotelli.

We're predicting a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 shape, so this side is based upon that and how we expect Rodgers to make his selections. 

Defence

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Dejan Lovren was rested/rotated for Kolo Toure in the midweek draw in Bulgaria, but the £20 million man will return to the side for the visit of Stoke.

Try not to get too excited.

Lovren will almost certainly partner Martin Skrtel at the heart of Liverpool's leaky defence.

Having conceded 13 goals from set pieces in 19 games this season, and having conceded a pretty alarming 18 goals in 12 Premier League outings thus far, improvements are needed.

With just two clean sheets this campaign, though, that doesn't look likely.

Rodgers will decide whether to recall Spaniard Alberto Moreno at left-back, who has been dropped in favour of Glen Johnson for the last two games, much to the puzzlement of every Liverpool supporter.

After his error in Sofia, former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar placed blame on Simon Mignolet for Liverpool's early-season struggles, as per the BBC (h/t Gerard Brand of the Mail Online); however, with Rodgers defending his No. 1 after the midweek draw, replacing him seems unlikely.

"The pitch was difficult for players and the goalkeepers, and it was especially bobbly around the 18-yard box," he is quoted as saying by the Press Association (h/t This Is Anfield).

Possible back four: Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno 

Midfield

Darko Vojinovic/Associated Press

The big question here is whether Rodgers opts to play Gerrard for a third game in seven days—and where to deploy his captain if he does.

Gerrard lined up just behind Rickie Lambert against Ludogorets. If Rodgers opts to play the 34-year-old in a similar role against Stoke, it will likely mean Lucas Leiva continuing as the deepest midfielder.

Alternatively, Rodgers may simply move Gerrard back into the deeper midfield role he has struggled with this campaign, which would mean no place for Lucas.

Emre Can hasn't started since impressing in consecutive starts against Real Madrid and Chelsea. He could return to add some physical presence in midfield.

Jordan Henderson made a successful return to the side on the right of midfield in Sofia, and he will almost certainly keep his place.

Possible midfield: Gerrard, Henderson, Can 

Attack

Valentina Petrova/Associated Press

Lambert has two goals in two games, already matching Balotelli's tally for the season.

The Italian is ruled out again, meaning Lambert and Fabio Borini are Rodgers' only options at centre-forward.

Raheem Sterling was much improved against Ludogorets, and he'll look to build on that, while Adam Lallana or Philippe Coutinho could come in to add some attacking impetus if Gerrard moves deeper in midfield.

Possible attack: Sterling, Lambert, Lallana 

Overall

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The focal point will surround Gerrard's role in the side. If Rodgers opts to keep him further forward, the side may not change much.

However, if Rodgers wants to get more energy in attack and bring in Lallana, Coutinho or Borini, then Gerrard will move deeper.

Possible Starting XI: Mignolet, Manquillo, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Gerrard, Can, Henderson, Sterling, Lambert, Lallana.

Possible Subs: Jones, Toure, Johnson, Lucas, Coutinho, Allen, Borini.