(Sporting Alert) — Striker Daniel Sturridge starts on the bench for Liverpool in today’s English Premier League (EPL) game against Everton, a game which is the 221st Merseyside derby.
Watch Live on NBC Sports Network | Follow Live Results
Sturridge, who featured for England during the week is nursing a dead leg his club revealed.
“Daniel Sturridge has had a difficult couple of weeks. He didn’t train for a week after the Fulham game,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told BT Sport. “He played in the international game (for England) and I could tell he wasn’t quite right. He trained a bit yesterday but not quite enough to play in a big game like this.
“Daniel Sturridge has been brilliant. He has been a matchwinner. He is not able to start but, hopefully, he can do that from the bench.”
Meanwhile, Joe Allen and Jon Flanagan have both been handed starting places for the clash at Goodison Park, with Aly Cissokho, who is not in the match day squad also making way.
Everton, the meantime, make one adjustment to the side that played to a goalless draw with Crystal Palace, as Leon Osman made way for the talented Ross Barkley in midfield. Osman is on the bench.
Also starting for Everton are Kevin Mirallas, Gareth Barry and Romelu Lukaku, who leads the attack.
Everton: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka (c), Coleman, Barry, McCarthy, Pienaar, Barkley, Mirallas, Lukaku.
Subs: Robles, Heitinga, Jelavic, Deulofeu, Naismith, Osman, Stones.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Johnson, Flanagan, Agger, Skrtel, Lucas, Gerrard (c), Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Suarez.
Subs: Jones, Toure, Alberto, Moses, Sturridge, Sakho, Sterling.
