Brendan Rodgers‘ already thin squad suffered two further injuries in the defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, Joe Allen coming off with half an hour remaining and Mamadou Sakho picking up a hamstring injury late on.
Already missing captain Steven Gerrard – who isn’t due to return to full training until this week, Allen’s injury in particular leaves Liverpool short in midfield.
Add in a potential injury to Jordan Henderson (the Physio Room website claims he too picked up a muscle injury at Chelsea) and Rodgers is left with only Lucas Leiva and Luis Alberto as his injury-free central midfielders.
Alberto, a £7m arrival from Barcelona in the summer, remained on the bench against Chelsea despite Allen’s injury – with Rodgers instead bringing on 19 year-old Brad Smith for his debut on the left of midfield and moving Philippe Coutinho to a more central position.
Gerrard could well be back in the squad ahead of schedule for the New Year’s Day visit of Hull to Anfield, but to rush him back into the starting XI would be a risky move.
Centre midfield was already an area which many Liverpool supporters felt needs strengthening and these injuries have exposed that weakness within the squad.
Rodgers has been using a midfield three of Lucas, Henderson and Allen in recent games, to good effect in Gerrard’s absence.
He could decide to temporarily revert to the 3-4-3 formation for the Hull match due to his limited options in centre midfield. That would mean Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger making up the back three, given Mamadou Sakho’s injury.
Glen Johnson and most likely Aly Cissokho would be the wing-backs, with Lucas and Luis Alberto as the central midfielders.
Philippe Coutinho could then play in the central area behind a front two of Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling.
How Liverpool could line-up against Hull if Allen and Henderson are both ruled out:
Rodgers could throw a huge surprise though instead and hand 16 year-old Jordan Rossiter his debut in midfield – the youngster was on the bench at Chelsea on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers‘ already thin squad suffered two further injuries in the defeat at Chelsea on Sunday, Joe Allen coming off with half an hour remaining and Mamadou Sakho picking up a hamstring injury late on.
Already missing captain Steven Gerrard – who isn’t due to return to full training until this week, Allen’s injury in particular leaves Liverpool short in midfield.
Add in a potential injury to Jordan Henderson (the Physio Room website claims he too picked up a muscle injury at Chelsea) and Rodgers is left with only Lucas Leiva and Luis Alberto as his injury-free central midfielders.
Alberto, a £7m arrival from Barcelona in the summer, remained on the bench against Chelsea despite Allen’s injury – with Rodgers instead bringing on 19 year-old Brad Smith for his debut on the left of midfield and moving Philippe Coutinho to a more central position.
Gerrard could well be back in the squad ahead of schedule for the New Year’s Day visit of Hull to Anfield, but to rush him back into the starting XI would be a risky move.
Centre midfield was already an area which many Liverpool supporters felt needs strengthening and these injuries have exposed that weakness within the squad.
Rodgers has been using a midfield three of Lucas, Henderson and Allen in recent games, to good effect in Gerrard’s absence.
He could decide to temporarily revert to the 3-4-3 formation for the Hull match due to his limited options in centre midfield. That would mean Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger making up the back three, given Mamadou Sakho’s injury.
Glen Johnson and most likely Aly Cissokho would be the wing-backs, with Lucas and Luis Alberto as the central midfielders.
Philippe Coutinho could then play in the central area behind a front two of Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling.
How Liverpool could line-up against Hull if Allen and Henderson are both ruled out:
Rodgers could throw a huge surprise though instead and hand 16 year-old Jordan Rossiter his debut in midfield – the youngster was on the bench at Chelsea on Sunday.
Brendan Rodgers reacted in a jovial, but unimpressed mood to being told that Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho swapped shirts with Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o at half-time in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
French international Sakho and Eto’o swapped shirts, as did Philippe Coutinho and Oscar, when the Reds were trailing 2-1 to the home side at the break.
An early goal from Martin Skrtel to give Liverpool the lead had been turned around with goals from Eden Hazard and Eto’o.
Rodgers seemed unaware that two of his players had swapped shirts with their rivals whilst walking off the pitch at half-time, and was surprised when a journalist told him of the incident in his post-match press conference.
Surprised, Rodgers told the reporter, “Well one, I didn’t know that, and two, thanks for telling me because I don’t like that.”
Rodgers then confirmed it is something he will raise with Sakho, before being told that Coutinho also swapped shirts half-way through the game.
The idea to swap shirts so early appeared to show a lack of focus on the game that Sakho and Coutinho had to play for a further 45 minutes, and premature respect to Liverpool’s rivals.
It also prompted a bemused and angry response on Twitter:
Should players be swapping shirts at half-time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or on Twitter @thisisanfield
Brendan Rodgers reacted in a jovial, but unimpressed mood to being told that Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho swapped shirts with Chelsea’s Samuel Eto’o at half-time in Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
French international Sakho and Eto’o swapped shirts, as did Philippe Coutinho and Oscar, when the Reds were trailing 2-1 to the home side at the break.
An early goal from Martin Skrtel to give Liverpool the lead had been turned around with goals from Eden Hazard and Eto’o.
Rodgers seemed unaware that two of his players had swapped shirts with their rivals whilst walking off the pitch at half-time, and was surprised when a journalist told him of the incident in his post-match press conference.
Surprised, Rodgers told the reporter, “Well one, I didn’t know that, and two, thanks for telling me because I don’t like that.”
Rodgers then confirmed it is something he will raise with Sakho, before being told that Coutinho also swapped shirts half-way through the game.
The idea to swap shirts so early appeared to show a lack of focus on the game that Sakho and Coutinho had to play for a further 45 minutes, and premature respect to Liverpool’s rivals.
It also prompted a bemused and angry response on Twitter:
Should players be swapping shirts at half-time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or on Twitter @thisisanfield
Liverpool lead the Premier League table on Christmas Day, but go into 2014 sitting in fifth place after defeats at Manchester City and Chelsea.
Martin Skrtel gave the visitors a third minute lead, but goals from Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o turned things around for the Blues before half-time.
Despite two consecutive defeats, manager Brendan Rodgers remained upbeat about his side’s title chances, telling BBC Sport, “There’s no reason why we can’t be challenging. The most important thing for us is that we’re in the conversation.”
Reds fans have taken to Twitter to discuss the side’s performance at Stamford Bridge yesterday, and some questionable decisions by referee Howard Webb.
We’ve rounded up a few of the reactions from fans below. Let us know your thoughts on the result, and where it leaves Liverpool half-way through the campaign in the comments below, or on Twitter @thisisanfield .
Liverpool lead the Premier League table on Christmas Day, but go into 2014 sitting in fifth place after defeats at Manchester City and Chelsea.
Martin Skrtel gave the visitors a third minute lead, but goals from Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o turned things around for the Blues before half-time.
Despite two consecutive defeats, manager Brendan Rodgers remained upbeat about his side’s title chances, telling BBC Sport, “There’s no reason why we can’t be challenging. The most important thing for us is that we’re in the conversation.”
Reds fans have taken to Twitter to discuss the side’s performance at Stamford Bridge yesterday, and some questionable decisions by referee Howard Webb.
We’ve rounded up a few of the reactions from fans below. Let us know your thoughts on the result, and where it leaves Liverpool half-way through the campaign in the comments below, or on Twitter @thisisanfield .
Brendan Rodgers was left counting the cost of a hectic festive programme after seeing three more Liverpool players limp out of the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
Rodgers' men have now lost two on the bounce, falling from first place on Christmas Day to fifth heading into the New Year.
However, Rodgers was happy with their efforts in challenging away games against Manchester City and now Chelsea and remains confident his side are in the title frame.
"I thought it was a great effort by my players," he said. "We've had two really tough fixtures against two of the strongest squads in the Premier League.
"To get them back-to-back at this time of year was always a big ask and with so many injuries as well. To keep the game in the balance to the very end, you have to give credit to the players.
"Of course we're disappointed but right now I'm more worried about the group, we're nursing injuries and we'll see where we are tomorrow."
Liverpool lost Joe Allen, Mamadou Sakho and Glen Johnson to injury at Stamford Bridge and Rodgers will be hoping to patch his squad up for Wednesday's visit of Hull City.
Rodgers, in trouble with the FA for his remarks after the loss to City, praised referee Howard Webb's overall performance at Stamford Bridge but said goalscorer Samuel Eto'o was lucky to be around to score the winner after an early challenge on Jordan Henderson.
"He was very fortunate even though it's so early in the game," he said. "Howard was excellent today but that was a poor challenge. I know we scored from it but he's raked his studs down the leg and shin and I'm surprised he didn't get a card.
"He (Eto'o) should've been sent off. I know we scored from it, but that was a wild challenge, where he's raked down his knee and down his shin and didn't even get a yellow card."
Chelsea boss Mourinho sought to take the blame, saying he had told Eto'o to take a more physical approach.
"I didn't see it, I don't know which situation you are referring to," he said when asked about the challenge on Henderson.
He then added: "For some weeks I have been criticising him a lot internally for his failure to adapt to what the Premier League is in terms of physicality so if he had a tackle deserving of a card it was my fault because I'm asking him to adapt to this."
Rodgers had a number of youngsters on the bench with injuries biting, and admitted reinforcements might be needed in January if they are to keep their title challenge alive.
"I think that's always been the case," he said. "The squad is very shallow.
"It shows the size of the challenge that you can lose two games and go from top to fifth but I'm confident if we can get some players back and maybe add one or two more we can be well set.
"We've already shown we can be a team that is exciting to watch with confidence and creativity, and we've still got improvements to make."
Brendan Rodgers was left counting the cost of a hectic festive programme after seeing three more Liverpool players limp out of the 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
Rodgers' men have now lost two on the bounce, falling from first place on Christmas Day to fifth heading into the New Year.
However, Rodgers was happy with their efforts in challenging away games against Manchester City and now Chelsea and remains confident his side are in the title frame.
"I thought it was a great effort by my players," he said. "We've had two really tough fixtures against two of the strongest squads in the Premier League.
"To get them back-to-back at this time of year was always a big ask and with so many injuries as well. To keep the game in the balance to the very end, you have to give credit to the players.
"Of course we're disappointed but right now I'm more worried about the group, we're nursing injuries and we'll see where we are tomorrow."
Liverpool lost Joe Allen, Mamadou Sakho and Glen Johnson to injury at Stamford Bridge and Rodgers will be hoping to patch his squad up for Wednesday's visit of Hull City.
Rodgers, in trouble with the FA for his remarks after the loss to City, praised referee Howard Webb's overall performance at Stamford Bridge but said goalscorer Samuel Eto'o was lucky to be around to score the winner after an early challenge on Jordan Henderson.
"He was very fortunate even though it's so early in the game," he said. "Howard was excellent today but that was a poor challenge. I know we scored from it but he's raked his studs down the leg and shin and I'm surprised he didn't get a card.
"He (Eto'o) should've been sent off. I know we scored from it, but that was a wild challenge, where he's raked down his knee and down his shin and didn't even get a yellow card."
Chelsea boss Mourinho sought to take the blame, saying he had told Eto'o to take a more physical approach.
"I didn't see it, I don't know which situation you are referring to," he said when asked about the challenge on Henderson.
He then added: "For some weeks I have been criticising him a lot internally for his failure to adapt to what the Premier League is in terms of physicality so if he had a tackle deserving of a card it was my fault because I'm asking him to adapt to this."
Rodgers had a number of youngsters on the bench with injuries biting, and admitted reinforcements might be needed in January if they are to keep their title challenge alive.
"I think that's always been the case," he said. "The squad is very shallow.
"It shows the size of the challenge that you can lose two games and go from top to fifth but I'm confident if we can get some players back and maybe add one or two more we can be well set.
"We've already shown we can be a team that is exciting to watch with confidence and creativity, and we've still got improvements to make."
Liverpool suffered defeat after going ahead, being denied by poor refereeing decisions and Martin Skrtel being out of position – no this, isn’t a report on the defeat at Man City.
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Skrtel had given Liverpool the lead from close range after just four minutes, tapping in after Luis Suarez got a head onto Coutinho’s free-kick.
That free-kick was awarded after a terrible challenge by Samuel Eto’o that, somehow, referee Howard Webb didn’t even award a yellow card for.
Eden Hazard equalised with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after the ball fell luckily to him on the counter-attack.
Then Eto’o capitalised on Skrtel being caught flat-footed inside the box to poke past Mignolet from close range. The keeper perhaps should have done better but made superb saves before and after that goal.
Liverpool improved in the second half after looking tired in the first, suffering from the effects of facing Man City and Chelsea, both away, inside 3 days.
Joe Allen and Mamadou Sakho both left the pitch injured in the second half, again, the result of the fixture schedule. Sakho seemingly having pulled his hamstring.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers brought on 19 year old Brad Smith for his debut but the youngster struggled to make an impression.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Sakho, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez.
Subs: Jones, Toure, Alberto, Aspas, Cissokho, Rossiter, Smith.
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; D Luiz, Lampard; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o.
Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Schurrle, Mata, Torres.
Liverpool suffered defeat after going ahead, being denied by poor refereeing decisions and Martin Skrtel being out of position – no this, isn’t a report on the defeat at Man City.
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
Skrtel had given Liverpool the lead from close range after just four minutes, tapping in after Luis Suarez got a head onto Coutinho’s free-kick.
That free-kick was awarded after a terrible challenge by Samuel Eto’o that, somehow, referee Howard Webb didn’t even award a yellow card for.
Eden Hazard equalised with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after the ball fell luckily to him on the counter-attack.
Then Eto’o capitalised on Skrtel being caught flat-footed inside the box to poke past Mignolet from close range. The keeper perhaps should have done better but made superb saves before and after that goal.
Liverpool improved in the second half after looking tired in the first, suffering from the effects of facing Man City and Chelsea, both away, inside 3 days.
Joe Allen and Mamadou Sakho both left the pitch injured in the second half, again, the result of the fixture schedule. Sakho seemingly having pulled his hamstring.
Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers brought on 19 year old Brad Smith for his debut but the youngster struggled to make an impression.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Agger, Skrtel, Sakho, Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Sterling, Coutinho, Suarez.
Subs: Jones, Toure, Alberto, Aspas, Cissokho, Rossiter, Smith.
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta; D Luiz, Lampard; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto’o.
Subs: Schwarzer, Cole, Essien, Mikel, Schurrle, Mata, Torres.
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