Europa League Group B: Rodgers to rest players as Liverpool face Sion

Liverpool are odds-on with Coral at 6/10 to beat Swiss side Sion in their first home outing in Europa League Group B, though boss Brendan Rodgers has indicated that striker Daniel Sturridge, who returned last time out and scored in the 3-2 win over Aston Villa, will not be risked.

It is also unlikely that Danny Ings will feature from the beginning with the Merseyside derby to follow on Sunday, while Christian Benteke is also out. This means that Belgian Divock Origi could again start, with the 20-year-old 4/1 to open the scoring.

On Sturridge, Rodgers said ahead of the match: “He won’t be involved in the game. We’ll keep him fresh for the weekend. He’s still building his way towards fitness.”

However, Rodgers was impressed by the blossoming partnership of Ings and Sturridge and is hoping there is more to come: “The combination between Sturridge and Ings was very good, They were a real threat. We could have had more goals.”

The last time the two sides met was in the 1996 Cup Winners’ Cup as the Reds won 8-4 on aggregate over the two legs, and these ties remain the only meeting between the pair.

Liverpool’s last European game saw Rodgers field a plethora of youngsters in the club’s 1-1 draw away at Bordeaux, and he has given signs that it could be more of the same in this Europa League clash at Anfield.

“Our approach to this game will be how it’s been in the competition so far,” he continued. “It’s an opportunity for players on the fringes.”

One in particular who will be hoping for action is fledgling defender Joe Gomez, who has impressed considerably since arriving at Anfield from Charlton in the summer.

“It was a bonus for me to come in and start the first few games of the season,” the player said.