TEAM NEWS: Sturridge fails to recover from hamstring injury but Coutinho makes the bench for Liverpool against West Brom

12/02/2013 6:08:00 AM

The England international has had his impressive start to his Anfield career halted by injury, however the Reds will be hoping to keep up their home form despite his abscence

Daniel Sturridge has failed to recover from a hamstring injury as Liverpool host West Brom, but new signing Coutinho could make his debut from the bench.

The Reds are in a rich vein of form at Anfield and will be hoping to inflict another blow to the Baggies who are without a win in their last eight games in all competitions.

Jonjo Shelvey replaces the injured Sturridge in the only change to Brendan Rodgers' team from the one that drew 2-2 to Manchester City.

New signing Coutinho could also be poised to make his first team debut for the club, albeit from the bench, with the Anfield faithful hoping the Brazil international will be able to add some more creativity to the Liverpool midfield.

Steve Clark makes two changes to his side, with Liam Ridgewell replacing the suspended Goran Popov, who received a red card in the defeat to Tottenham after spitting towards Kyle Walker, while Youssouf Mulumbu comes in for Romelu Lukaku, who drops to the bench.

The visitors are yet to win a game in 2013 and they will be hoping they can put in a good performance against a Liverpool side looking to keep pace with its top four competitors.

Liverpool starting XI: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Suarez, Shelvey, Downing
Subs: Jones, Wisdom, Skrtel, Allen, Borini, Sterling, Coutinho

West Brom starting XI: Foster, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Yacob, Dorrans, Morrison, Brunt, Long.
Subs: Myhill, Lukaku, Fortune, Jones, Rosenberg, Tamas, Thomas

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