Liverpool's starting XI to play Stoke: Phil Thompson selects his line-up
Friday 7 August 2015 12:46, UK
How will Liverpool line up for their Premier League opener against Stoke on Sunday afternoon?
There have been plenty of changes at Liverpool since their 6-1 thrashing at Stoke on the final day of last season, with Christian Benteke, Roberto Firmino and James Milner among the new arrivals, while Raheem Sterling and Steven Gerrard have left the club.
Ahead of Liverpool's return to the Britannia, Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson names the starting XI he expects Brendan Rodgers to go with this weekend.
Goalkeeper
Simon Mignolet was dropped by Rodgers in mid-December for Brad Jones, but an impressive second half of the season looks to have secured the Belgium international the starting role for now - and he gets the nod from Thompson. However, Adam Bogdan - who was signed from Bolton in the summer to replace the out-going Jones as back-up - will provide plenty of competition.
Defence
Thompson has opted to slot new signing Nathaniel Clyne in alongside three regulars from last season, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho and Alberto Moreno.
"Clyne is going to be a regular England defender and has been a fabulous signing,” said Thompson. "He fits in to the Brendan Rodgers ideal of what a full-back should be; first of all he's a good defender but then he's good at going forward, as well. Glen Johnson was the other way around.
"Centre-back divides a lot of Liverpool fans. For me it would be Skrtel and Sakho. I think they’re the best two. They complement each other the best, certainly with Sakho being left-footed.
"Joe Gomez has come in and done very well from Charlton. He could give Moreno a little bit of a problem at left-back. I’m probably going for Moreno, he’s just about tipping it at the moment for the game against Stoke."
Midfield
Playing a 4-2-3-1 formation, Thompson has opted for new signing Milner and skipper Jordan Henderson to sit in front of the defence. The pair played 69 Premier League games between them last season, so know exactly what it takes in England's top tier.
"The new captain of the side, Henderson, going with Milner, who I think has been an absolutely fantastic signing, would be my central pairing. We’ve seen already in pre-season how much Milner knits things together."
Attack
In attack, Thompson would like to see Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana unleashed behind £32.5m man Benteke on Sunday. The Belgian scored 42 goals in 89 Premier League appearances for former club Aston Villa.
"That gap between the opposition’s midfield and the defence is the key area. That is where the magic happens, if you get the right players in there who can do it. Firmino, Coutinho and Lallana."
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Subs
Liverpool should have a strong bench this season, with Kolo Toure and Gomez providing defensive cover, Joe Allen, Emre Can, Jordon Ibe and Lazar Markovic offering midfield options, and Divock Origi and Daniel Sturridge - once fit - competing for a striking berth.
However, it is Danny Ings - signed this summer from Burnley - who Thompson expects to impress this season, should Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini depart, as expected.
"Rickie Lambert has already gone. Balotelli will probably follow at some point and Borini also. They can’t be in there when we’ve got Origi, Ings, and Sturridge to come back. We’ve got four decent strikers there, with Benteke.
"I think Danny Ings could surprise people in this Liverpool side. He’s got that intelligence, that movement that Brendan Rodgers likes, and I think he could be the surprise package in this attacking set-up."
