Brendan Rodgers has given Joe Cole and Stewart Downing a chance to kick-start their seasons as the pair both start for Liverpool against Young Boys at Anfield.

Cole and Downing have struggled to cement a place in the starting XI this season, and the few minutes the duo have played for Liverpool this season have come in the Europa League.

Rodgers has also rested Luis Suarez after his dazzling display against Wigan on Saturday, and skipper Steven Gerrard is also given a break as Rodgers rotates the side. Lucas Leiva is not fully fit after a thigh injury, which has sidelined the Brazilian since August. Lucas will play for the under-21s on Friday as part of his comeback.

Liverpool beat the Swiss club 5-3 in the opening game of Group A, but Young Boys have resurrected their campaign since that defeat with back-to-back wins over Udinese.

Young Boys remain unchanged from the side that drew 0-0 with St. Gallen at the weekend.

Liverpool starting XI: Reina, Wisdom, Skrtel, Carragher, Downing, Suso, Sahin, Henderson, Cole, Shelvey, Assaidi.

Subs: Jones, Jose Enrique, Suarez, Gerrard, Coates, Allen, Sterling

Young Boys starting XI: Wolfli, Sutter, Nef, Veskovac, Lecjaks, Zverotic, Farnerud, Zarate, Schneuwly, Nuzzolo, Bobadilla.

Subs: Mvogo, Gonzalez, Ojala, Vitkieviez, Costanzo, Frey, Doubai.