UPDATED: Team news for the Premier League match between Liverpool and Hull City at Anfield on Saturday, October 25, 2014. Scroll down for Philip Buckingham's preview.Liverpool team news
LIVERPOOL will again be without England star Daniel Sturridge as they bid to end a difficult week on a high.
Sturridge has been sorely missed since suffering a calf injury away on international duty last month but Brendan Rodgers is still unable to call upon the 25-year-old.
That leaves the Liverpool boss choosing between the misfiring pair of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert, who between them have only mustered one goal all season.
Rodgers is likely to make changes to the side that lost 3-0 at home to Real Madrid on Wednesday night but is not blessed with the options he would like.
Defenders Mamadou Sakho (hip) and Jon Flanagan (knee) remain on the sidelines, meaning only veteran Kolo Toure and rookie Javi Manquillo offer alternatives in a porous rearguard.
In midfield there is scope to change and heading up the queue will be Adam Lallana.
The former Southampton man, who tore City to shreds at St Mary's Stadium last season, came on as a half-time substitute against Real Madrid and will be given the chance to shine on Saturday, most probably at the expense of Joe Allen.
Despite the recent furore over alleged tiredness, influential winger Raheem Sterling is also set to continue.Liverpool line-up: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Lallana, Gerrard, Henderson, Sterling; Coutinho, Lambert.Subs: Jone (GK), Toure, Maquillo, Can, Allen, Markovic, Balotelli.
Hull City team news STEVE Bruce will be forced to use the strength of his Hull City squad after counting the cost of last weekend's 2-2 draw at Arsenal. Michael Dawson (ankle), Nikica Jelavic (knee) and Steve Harper (bicep) will all miss the trip to Liverpool, joining Allan McGregor (shoulder) and Robert Snodgrass (knee) on the sidelines. Dawson and Jelavic will both miss up to six weeks meaning they may not be seen again until December, while Harper is another who will not play again until after next month's international break. Andy Robertson is almost certainly ruled out as he nurses a knee injury, with Robbie Brady a contender to replace him, but Tom Huddlestone is confident of being fit. The goalkeeper position will be filled by Eldin Jakupovic, who made his first appearance of the season as a substitute at the Emirates, while cover will be provided by teenager Rory Watson. Alex Bruce appears the most likely to deputise for Dawson in the heart of City's defence. Paul McShane and Harry Maguire are other options. Elsewhere, Steve Bruce must choose between Hatem Ben Arfa, Robbie Brady, Sone Aluko, Tom Ince or Gaston Ramirez as he looks for the right man to play off Abel Hernandez.Hull City line-up: Jakupovic; Chester, Bruce, Davies; Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Diame, Brady; Ben Arfa, Hernandez.Subs: Watson (GK), McShane, Rosenior, Quinn, Ramirez, Aluko, Meyler.
Philip Buckingham: Hull City have the resources to prosper IN THE weeks that have followed Hull City's exit from both the Europa League and Capital One Cup, the club's transfer strategy this summer has felt mildly excessive. Ten new arrivals created a deep well of resources at the KC Stadium and with only Premier League duties left on the 2014 calendar, a whole cast of understudies have been left to kick their heels. All until now. With injury fortune on the turn as the dark hours creep in, the logic of Steve Bruce's recruitment drive has suddenly become apparent. As well as seeing both of his preferred goalkeepers struck down by injury, first Allan McGregor and then Steve Harper, three of his favoured outfield players have joined the list of absentees for Saturday's journey to Liverpool. Andy Robertson's knee complaint is not considered serious but Michael Dawson and Nikica Jelavic may not play again until December. These times are sent to test a Premier League manager but at least Bruce now has the resources to survive. And perhaps even prosper. When similar problems left City with a diminished squad list 12 months ago, the City boss had to turn to the likes of Aaron Mclean and Nick Proschwitz to make up the numbers for a trip to Tottenham. On Saturday, he can call upon Sone Aluko and Tom Ince, not to mention Paul McShane, David Meyler and Harry Maguire. All five of those players have not even made travelling squads of late. The options available to Bruce to tone down any notion of an injury crisis. Either son Alex or McShane will come into defence, a pair that made 40 appearances between them last season, while it is between Liam Rosenior and Robbie Brady to fill the void left by Robertson. Hatem Ben Arfa partnering Abel Hernandez in attack is hardly a cause for panic either. This fresh bout of injuries might not be ideal but City have never been better prepared for it. This, after all, is a squad that includes 20 full internationals, past and present. The Tigers need not travel in fear of Liverpool. Last weekend's 2-2 draw at Arsenal came without Jelavic and could have been a win but for Danny Welbeck's late heart-breaker. Liverpool, meanwhile, were much less impressive in the capital 24 hours later. A 3-2 win at bottom club QPR came thanks to two own goals and a deflection, and even Brendan Rodgers admitted their remarkable fortune. The Reds are currently in a pickle. Although the recent stories surrounding Raheem Sterling's tiredness and Mario Balotelli's willingness to swap shirts at half-time have been awarded far more column inches than they deserve, these controversies reflect a struggling team. Such storms never hang over successful sides. Liverpool are a shadow of the side that finished runners-up to Manchester City on the final day of last season and City may be waiting some time before they get a better chance to take three points away from Anfield for the very first time. Who would have thought that with injuries beginning to bite?Prediction: Liverpool 1 Hull City 1
Hull City team news STEVE Bruce will be forced to use the strength of his Hull City squad after counting the cost of last weekend's 2-2 draw at Arsenal. Michael Dawson (ankle), Nikica Jelavic (knee) and Steve Harper (bicep) will all miss the trip to Liverpool, joining Allan McGregor (shoulder) and Robert Snodgrass (knee) on the sidelines. Dawson and Jelavic will both miss up to six weeks meaning they may not be seen again until December, while Harper is another who will not play again until after next month's international break. Andy Robertson is almost certainly ruled out as he nurses a knee injury, with Robbie Brady a contender to replace him, but Tom Huddlestone is confident of being fit. The goalkeeper position will be filled by Eldin Jakupovic, who made his first appearance of the season as a substitute at the Emirates, while cover will be provided by teenager Rory Watson. Alex Bruce appears the most likely to deputise for Dawson in the heart of City's defence. Paul McShane and Harry Maguire are other options. Elsewhere, Steve Bruce must choose between Hatem Ben Arfa, Robbie Brady, Sone Aluko, Tom Ince or Gaston Ramirez as he looks for the right man to play off Abel Hernandez.Hull City line-up: Jakupovic; Chester, Bruce, Davies; Elmohamady, Livermore, Huddlestone, Diame, Brady; Ben Arfa, Hernandez.Subs: Watson (GK), McShane, Rosenior, Quinn, Ramirez, Aluko, Meyler.
Philip Buckingham: Hull City have the resources to prosper IN THE weeks that have followed Hull City's exit from both the Europa League and Capital One Cup, the club's transfer strategy this summer has felt mildly excessive. Ten new arrivals created a deep well of resources at the KC Stadium and with only Premier League duties left on the 2014 calendar, a whole cast of understudies have been left to kick their heels. All until now. With injury fortune on the turn as the dark hours creep in, the logic of Steve Bruce's recruitment drive has suddenly become apparent. As well as seeing both of his preferred goalkeepers struck down by injury, first Allan McGregor and then Steve Harper, three of his favoured outfield players have joined the list of absentees for Saturday's journey to Liverpool. Andy Robertson's knee complaint is not considered serious but Michael Dawson and Nikica Jelavic may not play again until December. These times are sent to test a Premier League manager but at least Bruce now has the resources to survive. And perhaps even prosper. When similar problems left City with a diminished squad list 12 months ago, the City boss had to turn to the likes of Aaron Mclean and Nick Proschwitz to make up the numbers for a trip to Tottenham. On Saturday, he can call upon Sone Aluko and Tom Ince, not to mention Paul McShane, David Meyler and Harry Maguire. All five of those players have not even made travelling squads of late. The options available to Bruce to tone down any notion of an injury crisis. Either son Alex or McShane will come into defence, a pair that made 40 appearances between them last season, while it is between Liam Rosenior and Robbie Brady to fill the void left by Robertson. Hatem Ben Arfa partnering Abel Hernandez in attack is hardly a cause for panic either. This fresh bout of injuries might not be ideal but City have never been better prepared for it. This, after all, is a squad that includes 20 full internationals, past and present. The Tigers need not travel in fear of Liverpool. Last weekend's 2-2 draw at Arsenal came without Jelavic and could have been a win but for Danny Welbeck's late heart-breaker. Liverpool, meanwhile, were much less impressive in the capital 24 hours later. A 3-2 win at bottom club QPR came thanks to two own goals and a deflection, and even Brendan Rodgers admitted their remarkable fortune. The Reds are currently in a pickle. Although the recent stories surrounding Raheem Sterling's tiredness and Mario Balotelli's willingness to swap shirts at half-time have been awarded far more column inches than they deserve, these controversies reflect a struggling team. Such storms never hang over successful sides. Liverpool are a shadow of the side that finished runners-up to Manchester City on the final day of last season and City may be waiting some time before they get a better chance to take three points away from Anfield for the very first time. Who would have thought that with injuries beginning to bite?Prediction: Liverpool 1 Hull City 1
