Gary Neville surprised that Emre Can is starting in Liverpool back-four

Former Manchester United pundit and Sky Sports football pundit Gary Neville revealed that he is surprised that Emre Can will start at centre-back for Liverpool.

Neville stated that he was not expecting Can to feature in Brendan Rodgers back-four against Newcastle United.

“We have not seen him play as a centre back in a back four, it is obviously different, he did very good as a centre back in a back three but I am surprised he has gone with Can in a back four at centre back,” Neville said speaking on Sky Sports 1.

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Can signed for Liverpool as a central midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer but has played predominantly as a centre-back in the Reds back-three.

The 21-year-old will feature in a defensive back-four for the first time this season.

Rodgers has been forced to change his usual back-three of Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho and Can due to injury and suspension.

Skrtel is out suspended while Sakho is out injured with a hamstring injury.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is also suspended for the Reds.

Rodgers has decided to opt for a defensive line including Can and Dejan Lovren at centre-back while Moreno and Johnson will start as fullbacks.