Liverpool Team News: Rodgers Confirms Triple Injury Boost + Sturridge Latest

Liverpool will be looking to avoid an upset when they entertain Bolton Wanderes in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

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 Reds boss confirmed that Joe Allen has been back in full training this week so is available for selection after finally overcoming from a knee injury that’s kept him out since the defeat to Manchester United back on December 14.

Glen Johnson has also been training this past week and will be in contention after recovering from a groin injury that he too picked up at Old Trafford last month, and in what’s a triple boost for Liverpool, Mario Balotelli could make his return after missing the last two games through illness.

Rodgers then gave an update on the progress of Daniel Sturridge and although the striker has been training well since returning from the United States earlier this month, he’s still not available for selection just yet.

Therefore, Sturridge will miss the visit of Bolton along with goalkeeper Brad Jones – whose still nursing a thigh injury – and Jon Flanagan, who is still working his way back to full fitness from a long-term knee injury.

Rodgers told the clubs website:

“Joe Allen has been back and trained this week, which has been great.

“Glen Johnson has had a good week’s training, so he’ll be available. Mario has trained as well, so he is available.”

“We’re still waiting [on Sturridge]. He’s still working, but he won’t be available for the weekend.

“Brad [Jones] is still out and won’t be available and Jon [Flanagan] is not part of the squad as of yet.”

The Bolton clash is sandwiched in between Liverpool’s Capital One Cup semi final double-header with Chelsea and Rodgers has confirmed he’ll make a few changes to his side to keep things fresh ahead of the second leg at Stamford Bridge next week.

“We’ll make some changes, but it’s a game we want to win and we want to progress into the next round,” said the boss.

“I’ll do what I’ve done right the way through the season and look at our squad. We’ve got some very good players and we’ll look to make changes, but not too many.”

Liverpool head into the game in decent form having lost just once in their last 15 games so they’ll be hoping for a win to not only book their place in the next phase of the FA Cup, but also give them a confidence boost ahead of their vital clash with Chelsea next week.