Liverpool Team News: Rodgers Confirms Injury Blow + Latest On Sturridge

Liverpool face a tricky trip to St James’ Park to take on the in-form Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Ahead of the game, Brendan Rodgers has been speaking to the media at his pre-match press conference this afternoon and gave Liverpoolfc.com a team news and injury update.

The Northern Irishman confirmed that Jose Enrique is out of the game with a knee injury. The Spaniard missed the midweek victory over Swansea in the Capital One Cup after picking up the problem in training and it’s going to see him miss the chance to face his former side.

Glen Johnson deputised at left-back against Swansea but summer signing Alberto Moreno is expected to return to the starting line-up against Newcastle.

Rodgers told the clubs website:

“Jose is still not available, it’s just an issue with his knee,”

“He won’t be available for the squad.”

It means that Enrique joins Daniel Sturridge, Mamadou Sakho and John Flanagan on the sidelines but otherwise Rodgers has a fully-fit squad to choose from this weekend.

The Liverpool boss was asked for his thoughts on Sturridge’s continued absence with a calf problem and he insists that it’s up to him to find a solution but he sees it as an opportunity for some of the fringe players to prove their worth and he singled out Fabio Borini for special praise following his encouraging display in midweek.

Rodgers told the Liverpool Echo:

“It’s up to myself to find the solution to that. The players are working very, very hard. They’re still learning about each other, and I think this sometimes gets missed.

“I can see each day, the relationship between the players and the connection is growing.

“When you have players out, that is more difficult, but you need to find the solution in different ways. That’s what we’ve been trying to do, and as each day goes by I sense that we’re getting better.

“With Daniel out, it’s a miss, but it’s also an opportunity. We saw the other night, we gave opportunities to those who haven’t featured so much, and they were outstanding.

“ Fabio Borini was excellent , a real threat and put a wonderful cross in for the first goal. Lucas Leiva hasn’t played much, but came in and was excellent alongside Jordan Henderson. Rickie Lambert hasn’t had many opportunities, but had some nice touches, and young Markovic played on the left hand side, we have big confidence in him.

“Those players will get their chance, and we’re confident they can take that chance.”

Liverpool head into the weekend action sitting seventh after last weeks disappointing 0-0 draw with Hull City so they will be keen to get their season back on track with a win on Saturday.