ZGlmZnVzaW9uLXY2LWZhbm91dC5yYWNpbmdwb3N0LmNvbQ==NDQzdHJ1ZQ==U29jY2VyYmFzZVVzZXI=YVc4N1Z4NDFiNGgybTc4UTRpT1ZvZmhxM0RENHphQVM=

Lambert unlikely to prompt a change of heart

A COUPLE of ricks from the keeper and the inevitable happens.

Simon Mignolet, a perfectly competent goalkeeper up until last week, was seen by millions having an off-day against West Ham and among the many paper rumours doing the rounds is that Joe Hart is on his way to Anfield.

Presumably Vincent Kompany will join him there on the grounds that Dejan Lovren wasn't at his best at Upton Park, either.

Football's fickle finger is certainly pointing squarely between the eyes of Brendan Rodgers though I have to say he has got himself to blame. He signed enough players to fill the Mersey ferry over the summer but only now the dust has settled does he realise that most of them are incredibly average.

That was seen against Southampton, Man City, Villa, Ludogorets and finally the Hammers.

Desperate times call for desperate measures so cometh the hour cometh the man. Rickie Lambert, prepare for a first start.

Rickie was one of Rodgers' first signings of the summer and the Reds manager reckoned he'd got a real coup, said he was the perfect fit, gave them something different, blah, blah, blah. But having signed another few strikers since, he's obviously decided he's not bothered about Lambert at all, and all he's fit for is a League Cup outing against Middlesbrough.

So what happens if he bags a hat-trick? Straight into the side against Everton? Okay, clearly the first part of that double poser isn't going to happen so it'll be back to the bench on Saturday.

I fancy Boro can frustrate the Reds reserves and I'm on the underdogs to go through.

Teams

Agonising over Aberdeen?
Yearning for Yeovil? Our database is crammed with every football club you could possibly wish for

Players

A plethora of players ranging from Adebayor to Zamora. All you need to know to find out who is the best bet to score next

Competitions

Whether it's the Johnstone's Paint Trophy or the Champions League, Soccerbase will ensure you don't experience a big cup upset

Referees

Card-happy control freak?
Astute arbiter? Make the right decision on any referee with the help of our specialist pages

Managers

From Allardyce to Zola, our massive manager database, with histories and win ratios, is sure to get your vote of confidence