Liverpool are without a number of defenders for tomorrow afternoons FA Cup fourth round tie against Bournemouth at Anfield.
Glen Johnson has been ruled out for a number of weeks with a groin injury, and joins Jose Enrique, Daniel Agger and Mamadou Sakho on the side-lines.
Liverpool go in to tomorrow afternoon’s match against Aston Villa looking for an eight consecutive home league victory, and three points which will keep them in the top four.
Joe Allen and Mamadou Sakho should be available after recovering from their respective injuries, though defensive foursome Daniel Agger, Jon Flanagan, Jose Enrique and Sebastien Coates all remain side-lined.
Liverpool may welcome back Daniel Sturridge for Sunday afternoon’s trip to Stoke City.
The England international hasn’t played since the Meresyside derby at Goodison Park back in November, where his eighty-ninth minute equaliser salvaged a point for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson believes that the club’s absence for European competition this season has benefitted league campaign, Sky Sports understands.
The midfielder, who has arguably been the Reds’ most improved player this season, has said that the extra rest the team has been able to enjoy has helped them in their pursuit of a top four spot this time around.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers may choose to rotate his squad for Sunday afternoon’s visit of Oldham Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup.
The Reds had a less than ideal Christmas period, losing back to back fixtures against Manchester City and Chelsea in between home wins over Cardiff City and Hull City to leave them in fourth place in the Premier League, six points behind leaders Arsenal despite themselves being in top spot just eight days ago.
Liverpool’s winning run ended at the hands of Manchester City, who secured a 2-1 win over the Reds at the Etihad Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Philippe Coutinho put Brendan Rodgers’ men in front of 24 minutes; only for City captain Vincent Kompany to draw the hosts level seven minutes later.
Premier League leaders Liverpool face arguably their toughest challenge of the season so far as they travel to Manchester City, hoping for the three points that will ensure they remain in first place.
The Reds will be without defender Jon Flanagan, who sustained during the 3-1 victory over Cardiff City at the weekend, while Steven Gerrard, Sebastien Coates, Daniel Sturridge and Jose Enrique remain side-lined.
Luis Suarez, who already has ten goals in December – the most by any player in Premier League history, will again lead the line.
Should the Uruguay international score, it would be his thirtieth goal of this calendar year while Alan Shearer currently holds the record of thirty-six with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 – the year the club clinched the title under Kenny Dalglish.
Such is the tightness between the sides at the top of the table, defeat could in fact see Brendan Rodgers’ men finish the day in fifth position.
Second place Arsenal, who are joint on points with Liverpool, make the short trip to struggling West Ham United; fourth place Chelsea host Swansea City and Merseyside rivals Everton, who are currently fifth, welcome bottom of the table Sunderland to Goodison Park.
Liverpool secured an emphatic win for the third game in succession, this time putting five past a sorry Tottenham Hotspur side in a game that turned out to be Andre Villas Boas’ last in charge of the North London side.
Luis Suarez was again in fine form for the Reds, having a hand in all five of their goals.
Liverpool head to Hull City on Sunday afternoon hoping to close the gap between them and leaders Arsenal.
The Gunners face Cardiff City on Saturday afternoon, and any slip up from the early season pace setters will give both Liverpool, and Chelsea in third place the chance to capitalise.
Ex-Liverpool defender Sami Hyppia has revealed that is would be “special” to return to Anfield one day as manager, the Mirror understands.
The Finn enjoyed a successful ten year spell on Merseyside, winning a host of honours including the 2005 Champions League triumph in Istanbul.
