Key battles likely to shape Sunday’s outcome

Photo: Darren Robinson

in the spotlight: Athletic forward Jose Baxter faces the press at Boundary Park.

Jean-Yves Mvoto v Daniel Sturridge
It's difficult to read whether Brendan Rodgers will opt to play Luis Suarez or Daniel Sturridge as the central focus of his probable three-pronged attack.

Former Manchester City prospect Sturridge is

perhaps the more likely of the pair to start the game, being that he is still finding his feet at Anfield.

Athletic's man-mountain centre-back, whose form has been a little up-and-down recently, will need every ounce of concentration to track the clever movements of the tricky dribbler.


James Wesolowski v Jonjo Shelvey
Back from suspension at Notts County, Liverpool fan Wesolowski will be

especially keen to impress in front of a nationwide audience. Sitting in front of Athletic's back four, he will need to keep a careful eye on the forward runs of Shelvey, who has risen to prominence with some barnstorming performances this season.

Wesolowski must call on his trademark tenacity to deny the visitors space and time in the 'hole' between Athletic's midfield and defence in which Shelvey will be keen to operate.



Jose Baxter v Jamie Carragher
The Liverpool-supporting former Everton striker (Baxter) goes up against the Everton fan who became a Liverpool legend (Carragher). Baxter's

football intelligence will see him try to draw Carragher out from his defensive role in order to create pockets of room for Athletic's wide players to move inside and exploit.

Carragher, who turns 35 on Monday, is a wily operator. As ever, the onus is on Athletic's wingers to make the pitch as wide as possible in order to give Baxter the space he craves and slide his weighted passes in behind the Reds.


Probable teams:
Athletic (4-4-1-1): Bouzanis; Wabara, Byrne, Mvoto, Grounds; Croft, Wesolowski (c), Mchangama, Simpson; Baxter; Smith.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Jones; Wisdom, Skrtel, Carragher, Robinson; Henderson, Shelvey, Allen; Suso, Sturridge, Sterling.