Predicted Liverpool Line-Up To Face Rubin Kazan: Allen And Can To Start

Liverpool will be hosting the Russian side Rubin Kazan in their Group B fixture in the Europa League on Thursday. It will be Jurgen Klopp’s, first home match and Liverpool will be looking for their first win in the group stage of the Europa League. How will the Reds line up in their new manager’s first home match? Here we predict a possible Liverpool line up!

Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet

Mignolet is expected to continue in goal after his solid performance against Tottenham this Saturday. New arrival Adam Bogdan is the other goalkeeping option in hand for Liverpool but he will not start ahead of Mignolet.

Defenders: Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Mamadaou Sakho and Alberto Moreno

Jurgen Klopp will probably opt for the same back four that he used against Tottenham on Saturday. The back four along with the Goalkeeper put up a solid performance and Klopp will want them to continue the same. So, he will not be thinking of making any changes to the back four. Kolo Toure is a possible replacement for Skrtel or Sakho, but as mentioned earlier Klopp will let the current back four play and create the momentum.

Midfielders: Joe Allen, Emre Can, Adam Lallana, James Milner and Jordon Ibe

Jurgen Klopp is expected to continue his preferred 4-2-3-1 formation. In that case Emre Can and Joe Allen will be playing as the central midfielders. Allen is expected to replace the Brazilian, Lucas Leiva. Klopp will want to see what Allen can offer to the team. Allen is a player who can press a lot and that suits Klopp’s style. Roberto Firmino is back from injury but Klopp probably won’t use him in the match against Rubin Kazan (he may use Firmino as a substitute).

Philippe Coutinho who has been struggling with a slight knock might be rested by Klopp for their Europa League match. The young, Jordon Ibe will be replacing Coutinho and he will be probably playing on the left wing. James Milner and Adam Lallana will form the rest of the midfield.

Striker: Divock Origi

Klopp revealed last week that he wanted to bring Origi to Borussia Dortmund and he also said that now he is happy to work with the young Belgian. Daniel Sturridge and Christian Benteke have returned from their injuries but they will not be starting on Thursday (they may be used as substitutes).