Europa League

Preview: Hearts vs. Liverpool

By Danielle Joynson, Staff Reporter | 22 August 2012

Liverpool take on Hearts in the first leg of their Europa League clash tomorrow following their opening Premier League defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool return to their Europa League commitments with a first-leg clash against Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow.

The Reds will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing start to the Premier League season, which resulted in a 3-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is expected to ring the changes in for the European match with one eye on this Sunday's meeting with Manchester City at Anfield, which means that out-of-favour striker Andy Carroll could make an appearance while Luis Suarez is rested.

Jordan Henderson could also start the contest in place of skipper Steven Gerrard, who is likely to be saved for this weekend's fixture, while Daniel Agger is expected to feature due to his Premier League one-match ban.

Meanwhile, Hearts are likely to field a relatively strong side for the clash, with manager John McGlynn likely to start John Sutton and Andrew Driver up front.

Hearts captain Marius Zaliukas is a fitness doubt ahead of tomorrow's match after suffering a dead leg at the weekend but the defender is expected to win his battle to be fit.

Hearts: MacDonald; Paterson, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; McGowan, Barr, Taouil; Novikovas; Sutton, Driver

Liverpool: Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Kelly; Henderson, Adam, Allen; Shelvey, Carroll, Downing

Sports Mole says: 0-1