Henderson and Yesil to get Liverpool chances?

When Liverpool host Swansea, the attention will focus on one man; Brendan Rodgers. But when all is said and done, could Reds fans be going home toasting a new hero?

Samed Yesil is that man, the young German striker answering a Liverpool SOS with Luis Suarez in line for a much-needed rest.

Suarez went straight into action after returning from international duty with Uruguay, and Brendan Rodgers will be keen to keep him in tip-top condition and prevent him suffering burnout.

With Liverpool also competing in the Europa League, the last thing they need is an injury to Suarez. Their striker options are thin after loaning out Andy Carroll, and Fabio Borini suffered a metatarsal injury with Italy's under-21s.

18-year-old Samed Yesil is the next in line, a £1 million August signing from Bayer Leverkusen. His talent came to prominence for Germany's  youth sides, where he bagged 19 in 21 games for the national under-17 side, and eight in six for the under-19s.

He featured against West Brom in the last round, playing 80 minutes at the Hawthorns, but will hope that an Anfield start is more productive against a Swansea side who will be without first choice goalkeeper Michel Vorm, sidelined through injury.

He has been on the bench in the Europa League in recent games, showing he is on the verge of a breakthrough, and a strong performance tomorrow can be just that.

Brendan Rodgers would much rather the attention post-game be on the young striker, rather than himself leading his new team against his former club.

Another player hoping for a key role will be Jordan Henderson, sidelined for much of this season.

Last summer's big money signing is yet to start a league game for the Reds this season, appearing just four times as a substitute. He has started four in the Europa League, and has two assists to his name in the competition.

He came off the bench against Everton at the weekend for the final 20 minutes, but if he is to have a real chance of featuring regularly, he needs more games, and this match against Swansea is the ideal chance for him. He made his only domestic start of the campaign in the last round against West Brom, and should get the nod tomorrow.

Does he have a future at Liverpool? That is less certain. His career was placed in doubt by the attempts to loan him out to sign Clint Dempsey, and if he continues to sit on the bench, a January switch may be on the horizon.

Living in the present, tomorrow night is key, and who knows, he could just re-ignite his Liverpool career in front of his own fans.

Should Henderson and Yesil start tomorrow? Do both have big futures at Liverpool?

 

image: © kong niffe