Liverpool boss expected to play Emre Can in midfield against Besiktas [divider]

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is expected to play Emre Can in a central midfield role against Beşiktaş in the Europa League Round of 32 second leg in Istanbul.

Steven Gerrard, Lucas and Jordan Henderson have also been ruled out with injury and Lazar Markovic will serve the second match of a four game ban.

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Rodgers will also be without defenders Mamadou Sakho and Glen Johnson going into the second game.

The Liverpool head coach could be forced to play a back-three made up of Kolo Toure, Martin Skrtel and Lovren.

Can could be moved into a central midfield position as Rodgers shuffles his team following the injuries.

The 21-year-old is expected to partner Joe Allen in central midfield against the Black Eagles.

Can was actually signed as a midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer but Rodgers has used him as a defender for much of the season.

The Liverpool boss has however, been impressed with Can’s versatility and recently said that he would play in midfield one day.

“He’s offered real good balance, is tactically very good for such a young player and in the future will go on and show he’s a top midfield player also,” Rodgers told official Liverpool website.