Hull vs Liverpool: Five things we can expect as Reds see Champions League hopes reignited

Liverpool have a chance to close the gap on the top four after Manchester United' slip up on Sunday

Steve Bruce can't bear to watch as Brendan Rodgers looks on (Getty Images)

A REINVIGORATED LIVERPOOL PERFORMANCE

Manchester United’ surprising 3-0 defeat to Everton at the weekend has given Liverpool the faintest of hopes that their Champions League hopes are not completely over. Each time it looks like Brendan Rodgers’ side will be consigned to a fifth-place finish at best, one of the teams ahead of them slips up and the chase is resumed.

The Reds have the chance to cut the gap to fourth-placed United to four points should they beat Hull tonight, and with winnable games against QPR, Crystal Palace and Stoke – plus a not-so-enticing trip to Chelsea – to come, don’t rule Liverpool out completely just yet.

The players should start tonight’s game with a rejuvenated attitude, knowing that three points will at least put the pressure on United to get back to winning ways. If they don’t, then they might as well end the season here and now.

STEVEN GERRARD TO BE DROPPED TO THE BENCH

Steven Gerrard is capable of a lot of things, but at 34 years old asking him to play 180 minutes in the space of four days is a bit much. Having played the duration against West Brom on Saturday, Rodgers is likely to rotate the captain and bring in either Joe Allen or Adam Lallana – the former is the more likely to start.

Gerrard talks with Mario Balotelli in the game against Hull earlier this season (Getty Images)

There’s no doubting that Gerrard’s influence in games has begun to fade this season, hence the impending move to the MLS and LA Galaxy. That said, he still has a role to play, and bringing him on during the second half should lift the side if they are struggling to find a breakthrough. While his physical presence has come under question recently, his mental impact on his team-mates remains unrivalled.

HULL TO HAVE CHANCES TO WIN THE GAME

Liverpool have problems in defence at the best of times, but the injury-enforced absence of Alberto Moreno and Mamadou Sakho has left them a bit light at the back. Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren could continue in a back-three made up by Glen Johnson, but it continues to appear that none of them are entirely comfortable in playing three at the back. Back-up options Kolo Toure and Javier Manquillo haven’t impressed either, and Rodgers is unlikely to be tempted to bring them into the starting line-up bar any injury concerns.

Dame N'Doye celebrates scoring against Crystal Palace (Getty Images)

To add to this, Hull come into the game off the back of a morale-boosting win at Crystal Palace where two goals from Dame N’Doye secured a much-needed three points in the race for Premier League survival. The Tigers currently sit a precarious point about the relegation zone, having played the same number of games as 18th-placed Sunderland, and a win will give them a little bit of breathing space to try and build a solid run-in to the end of the season.

The midfield axis of Tom Huddlestone, Jake Livermore and Stephen Quinn clicked at Selhurst Park last weekend, and if they can do so again at the KC Stadium, they will create chances for N’Doye in front of them.

JORDAN HENDERSON TO BE LIVERPOOL’S BEST PLAYER

With a long-term £100,000-a-week contract sewn up, the next Liverpool captain-in-waiting can afford himself to play football with a weight off his mind. Henderson has grown into one of Liverpool’s leaders under the guidance of Gerrard, so much so that he has been Liverpool’s standout central midfielder this season, and it’s not often that accolade can go to somebody other than Gerrard.

Henderson has had a strong season despite Liverpool's troubles (Getty Images)

So with the burden of his future removed, Henderson can put all of his attentions into his on-field performances. Despite Liverpool’s below-par season, Henderson has still managed to impress, and with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho not performing at their best at present, expect Henderson to step forward.

GERRARD TO BE MOCKED FOR LAST SEASON…AGAIN

Sadly for Steven Gerrard, Monday marked the one-year anniversary of that slip, and while there was no game for the former England captain to be mocked, fans continue to chant relentlessly about the moment he let Demba Ba through on goal to dent Liverpool’s 2013/14 title hopes. With social media doing its best to remind football fans of events 366 days ago, the incident will be fresh in the mind of those Hull fans heading to the KC Stadium, and expect the chants to rear their head early – even if Gerrard isn’t in the team.