Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard could be rested for the FA Cup fourth round visit of Bolton on Saturday.
With a must-win Capital One Cup semi-final second leg at Chelsea on Tuesday the 34-year-old, who missed last weekend's win at Aston Villa with a tight hamstring, is likely to drop to the bench.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed 17-year-old midfielder Jordan Rossiter will be involved in some capacity, while defender Glen Johnson, midfielder Joe Allen and striker Mario Balotelli all returned to training this week.
Provisional squad: Mignolet, Can, Lovren, Sakho, Manquillo, Henderson, Lucas, Moreno, Lallana, Coutinho, Sterling, Ward, Skrtel, Enrique, Rossiter, Gerrard, Williams, Markovic, Lambert, Borini, Ojo.
If Gerrard is rested, captaincy will be handed over to Jordan Henderson, who was yesterday praised by Brendan Rodgers for the way he has taken the leadership baton in Gerrard’s absence this season.
“When I first came in he was searching for his status at the club but the team who brought him in before knew he was a good persona and a strong character and that has continued,” Rodgers told press at his Melwood pre-match press conference.
“Now you see his leadership qualities on and off the field; he will protect the team and his colleagues and he is a wonderful ambassador for the club.
“I felt by giving him the vice-captain he could carry that if Steven wasn’t playing and he does it with great pride and honour.
“As a footballer he is still improving and developing and he will continue to do that.
“He was given the vice-captaincy role, that doesn’t always mean that player goes on to become the captain. It is not automatic.
“But certainly at this moment in time when Steven doesn’t play he does it in great fashion.
“When you see him in the tunnel leading out the team he has great presence and good status and the supporters respond to him. He is in a really good moment.”
PA
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petikan dari Liverpool FC, This is Anfield, Teamtalk
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