The England fullback, who was ruled out “indefinitely” by the Reds boss exactly a month ago, comes straight back into the side he shifts over to the left-flank with Jon Flanagan keeping his post on the right and dropping on-loan Valencia man Aly Cissokho to the bench. Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel hang onto the spots in the heart of defence and Simon Mignolet returns after Brad Jones deputized at the Emirates Stadium.
Jordan Henderson comes back into the side in place of former Swansea City man Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard will start in his new deep-lying playmaker role. Up top, it’s the familiar foursome of Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and strike duo Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.
From the bench, Liverpool have ‘keeper Brad Jones, defenders Kolo Toure and and Aly Cissokho, midfielders Victor Moses, Joe Allen and Joao Teixeira, as well as misfit strike Iago Aspas.
On the other side of the pitch, interim player-manager Garry Monk has pulled no punches for the Swans after seeing a weakened line-up crash out of the FA Cup to Everton last weekend. Michel Vorm starts between the sticks and he’ll have Angel Rangel, Chico Flores, Ashley Williams and Neil Taylor in front of him.
Leon Britton, Jonathan de Guzman, former Liverpool man Jonjo Shelvey and wingers Nathan Dyer and Wayne Routledge round out the midfield, leaving Ivorian striker Wilfried Bony to go it alone up top.
In reserve, Monk has shot stopper Gerhard Tremmel, Jordi Amat, Dwight Tiendalli, defensive midfielder Jose Canas, Pablo Hernandez, Marvin Emnes and another former Red in striker David Ngog.
Be sure to pop in after the match for a full review and other assorted fodder as we analyze the hell out of the Reds meeting with the Swans.
