Captain Steven Gerrard and defender Dejan Lovren are left out of Liverpool's Premier League lineup for the first time this season for the visit of Stoke to Anfield.

Steven Gerrard has been left on the bench for Liverpool's Premier League visit of Stoke City this afternoon.

On the 16th anniversary of his Reds debut, Gerrard is axed for a top-flight game for the first time this season, along with £24m summer signing Dejan Lovren.

Manager Brendan Rodgers prefers Kolo Touro in the heart of his defence, and recalls Jose Enrique at left-back as he tries to stem the leak of goals which has seen them go five matches without victory.

Lucas Leiva was brought back into the fold for the 2-2 Champions League draw with Ludogorets Razgrad on Wednesday and maintains his place in a midfield which includes Philippe Coutinho, but not Adam Lallana.

In the absence of injured duo Daniel Sturridge and Mario Balotelli, the Liverpool line is led by Rickie Lambert, who has scored in each of his last two games and will be supported by Raheem Sterling.

Stoke welcome back defenders Marc Wilson and Erik Pieters in two of three changes made to the side which suffered a third home defeat of the campaign to newly-promoted Burnley last weekend.

Phil Bardsley and Marc Muniesa drop out of defence, with Geoff Cameron switching to right-back. Further up the pitch, Marko Arnautovic comes in for Victor Moses, who is out for six weeks with a thigh strain.

Liverpool Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Toure, Enrique; Lucas, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho; Sterling, Lambert
Subs: Jones, Lovren, Moreno, Lallana, Gerrard, Markovic, Can

Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Wilson, Pieters; Nzonzi, Sidwell; Arnautovic, Bojan, Walters; Diouf
Subs: Butland; Whelan, Muniesa, Adam, Ireland, Crouch, Shenton

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