Liverpool Welcome Back Quartet as Rodgers Hails His Strongest Squad Yet

Brendan Rodgers believes that Liverpool will travel to Newcastle on Saturday with their strongest squad of the season after confirming that four players are back in contention.

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva returns after missing the victory over Crystal Palace through suspension, while Aly Cissoko, Glen Johnson and Joe Allen have all returned to full fitness.

Rodgers will have plenty of decisions to make as Liverpool have made an impressive start to the season but it is likely that Johnson will come straight back into the starting line up.

Cissokho and Allen have both been on the sidelines for some time but it seems they will also be in contention for a return to first team action at St. James' Park.

"We'll arrive with our strongest squad of the season against Newcastle," Rodgers confirmed at his pre-match press conference.

"They haven't played games, but they've been training now for the last few weeks.

"Glen Johnson will be back. Joe Allen will be back. Cissokho will be back. As I said, this will be the strongest available squad we've had this season."

While Allen may have to wait a while longer for a chance to impress, Lucas is likely to go straight back into the side after impressing alongside Steven Gerrard at the start of the season.

"Lucas will come back into the squad. He's another player who has shown his worth and he's got himself back into the Brazil squad," added Rodgers.

"We've got a number of players here who are developing and improving in their careers, and he's one of them.

"The likes of Lucas will come back into the squad and, as I've said, it's the strongest squad I've had since the beginning of the season."

The only player from the first team squad who will be unavailable to Rodgers is Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho who is still recovering from the injury he picked up in the 2-2 draw with Swansea.

There was a suggestion the highly rated playmaker would be fit in time to face Newcastle, a side he helped tale part last season in a 6-0 win for Liverpool, but he is still short of fitness and has been unable to train with the squad.

Rodgers confirmed: "He's working with the physiologists on the field. He's looking very good, but still not strong enough yet to join the training group."