TEAM NEWS: Joe Cole starts for Liverpool as big names are rested against Anzhi

Nov 8, 2012 3:51:00 PM

The former Chelsea midfielder makes just his third start of the season against the Russian side while manager Brendan Rodgers hands a full debut to youngster Conor Coady

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has handed midfielder Joe Cole just his third start of the season in the side to face Anzhi Makhachkala in their Europa League clash.

The 31-year-old's campaign has been marred by a hamstring injury he picked up in the first game of the Premier League season when the Reds lost 3-0 to West Brom.

He made a return to action in their 3-1 defeat to Swansea in the Captial One Cup but was replaced at half-time and missed the 1-1 draw with Newcastle last weekend.

Elsewhere, youngster Conor Coady has been handed his full Liverpool debut by Rodgers in a youthful side which also includes 19-year-old full-back Jon Flanagan and 18-year-old striker Adam Morgan.

Brad Jones continues in goal in the absence of Pepe Reina, while Jamie Carragher and Sebastian Coates form the centre-back pairing replacing Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger. There are also starts for Jonjo Shelvey, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson in midfield.

Liverpool XI: Jones; Wisdom, Carragher, Coates, Flanagan; Shelvey, Henderson, Coady, Downing; Cole; Morgan.

Subs: Gulacsi, Wilson, Robinson, Assaidi, Pacheco, Suso, Sama.

Anzhi XI: Gabulov; Logashov, Samba, Joao Carlos, Tagirbekov; Ahmedov, Jucilei, Zhirkov; Eto'o, Boussoufa, Traore.

Subs: Pomazan, Gadzhibekov, Agalarov, Lakhiyalov, Carcela-Gonzalez, Smolov, Burmistrov.

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