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Rodgers Plans to Rest Key Players Against FC Sion

With a match against Everton on the weekend that could determine his future, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is expected to rest key players and run out a heavily changed eleven against FC Sion.

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After using their last game in Europe as a chance to give youth and fringe players a chance, it is expected that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will again run out a heavily changed side when they face FC Sion on Thursday night. Only this time around, some of the players likely to be rested were the ones being given a chance two weeks ago.

Mamadou Sakho earned a recall with his performance in Liverpool's last Europa League match, and this time around it's expected Rodgers will rest him with an eye to managing the Frenchman's minutes and keeping him fresh for the Merseyside derby on the weekend. With Dejan Lovren out injured, though, it rather limits the manager's options when it comes to who replaces him.

Kolo Toure and Joe Gomez are expected to get the start, but with Liverpool likely to continue with three at the back, there will be a need to play either Martin Skrtel or Emre Can alongside them, even if ideally both would be given a break. It's a similar situation with Alberto Moreno on the left. Having proven he deserves to be first choice there, ideally he could be rested on Thursday.

However, there are few options to come in for him. On the right at least, though, Nathaniel Clyne should be able to take the night off with Jordon Ibe brought in to play wingback for the England international. Joe Allen, Adam Lallana, and Jordan Rossiter are all possibilities in midfield, while with Daniel Sturridge expected to be rested it could be Divock Origi and Danny Ings up top.

Along with the missing Dejan Lovren, Rodgers knows he will be without Jordan Henderson, Christian Benteke, and Roberto Firmino for Thursday's Europa League tie.

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