Liverpool Pre-Spurs Team News: Rodgers Update On Balotelli, Lallana, Moreno + More

Liverpool will hope to get their season back on track when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference today and gave Liverpoolfc.com the latest team and injury news including the latest on Adam Lallana, Jose Enrique, Mario Balotelli, Alberto Moreno and Glen Johnson.

The Northern Irishman confirmed that Lallana is fit again and will be in the squad that travels to the capital this weekend after returning to training following a knee injury. It’s unlikely the attacker will start but he could come on in the second half to make his competitive debut for the club.

Right-back Johnson picked up a thigh problem during the closing stages of Liverpool’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City on Monday night and Rodgers has confirmed that the England international is likely to miss out this weekend.

The Merseysiders also have a doubt over summer signing Moreno after he too picked up an ankle injury at the Etihad, but Rodgers claims the Spaniard has recovered well so he has a chance of featuring on Sunday.

If Moreno fails to be passed fit then Jose Enrique could find himself thrust back into the thick of things with the 28-year-old coming through a full weeks training unscathed after being on the sidelines for nearly 9 months with a knee injury.

Liverpool’s latest big-money signing, Mario Balotelli, could make his debut at White Hart Lane with Rodgers confirming the Italian has trained well all week and is settling in at the club well.

Here’s what Rodgers told the clubs website:

“Adam will be in the squad, for sure. He has looked fantastic in training.

“Of course he is well short of match fitness but in training for the last couple of weeks he has been exceptional.”

“We’ll see closer to the game. Young [Alberto] Moreno twisted his ankle, which was unfortunate, but he has been recovering well this week.

“Glen Johnson is probably the one that it could be difficult for, with a thigh problem.

“Jose Enrique has been back training for over a week, and looks very strong and fit. But, again, he hasn’t had a lot of game time. We’ll see over the next 48 hours.

“The group has been brilliant in training this week – the focus has been very good.”

“Mario is fine, he has settled in very well. He has looked fantastic in training and he is a good lad. The focus is very much on his football and he has done very well.”

It’s likely that Rodgers will opt to keep Balotelli on the bench and bring him on in the second half if required, as it’s a huge game to start him in after such a short time at the club, but we’ll have to see what the Reds boss decides to do on Sunday.