Lucas Replaces Gerrard at White Hart Lane
The Brazilian, who has been outside of the starting eleven for the last two matches, makes a return to the match day set-up and will partner Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson, who shook off a knock from last weekends meeting with West Ham, in the middle of the park. They’ll be going up against a five man Spurs midfield with Brazilians Paulinho and Sandro named by Andre Villas-Boas along with Aaron Lennon, Moussa Dembélé, and Nacer Chadli.
Liverpool will have hat-trick hero Roberto Soldado to deal with up front with the Spaniard retaining his place in the squad after bagging three against Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala mid-week. He’ll come up against an unchanged Reds backline that held West Ham United to one goal last weekend with Simon Mignolet between the sticks, Glen Johnson and Jon Flanagan on the flanks and Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho in the thick of it all.
Up top, Luis Suarez has been handed the captain’s armband in the absence of vice-captain Daniel Agger and will be flanked by Philippe Coutinho and youngster Raheem Sterling. The Uruguayan will be the man to watch; Hugo Lloris has the unenviable task of trying to keep a clean sheet while Kyle Walker, Étienne Capoue, Michael Dawson and Kyle Naughton are in charge of keeping the red hot striker quiet.
From the bench, Rodgers has Jones, Kelly, Agger, Toure, Moses, Aspas and Alberto, while Villas Boas will be able to call upon Friedel, Fryers, Holtby, Lamela, Townsend, Sigurdsson and Defoe if need be.
Be sure to stop by after the match for a full reaction and other assorted goodies.