Sakho to Return as Rodgers Hopes to Solve Liverpool's Defensive Frailties

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted that he is struggling to find the right balance in defence after seeing his side concede six goals in just two Premier League games.

The Reds have only conceded three times at Anfield this season but they have struggled to keep clean sheets in away games and shipped six goals in their last two games against Everton and Hull City.

Rodgers worked hard over the summer to try and find suitable replacements for Jamie Carragher and did succeed in signing three defenders. Mamadou Sakho arrived for £18m from Paris Saint-Germain, Tiago Ilori was signed from Sporting Lisbon and Kolo Toure was snapped up on a free transfer.

Martin Skrtel and Toure were used against Hull in one of the most disappointing performances of the season and Rodgers has suggested that Sakho could return for the home game against Norwich on Wednesday night.

The 23-year-old has not played since the 2-0 loss to Arsenal but did excel for France as he helped his country qualify for the World Cup by scoring two goals against Ukraine.

"He came in at a time when we went to a back three and did reasonably well, so he's working very hard to come into the starting line-up," said Rodgers, as quoted in the Daily Mail. "That's where we are at. He's a good player, a (France) international.

"If he is working well enough in training - and the team is not doing so well - it could open up the door for him. The last couple of games we were disappointed with the goals at Everton and obviously we made mistakes.

"So that has been the difficulty for us - getting that balance, the partnership that could cope with all types of strikers."

Liverpool have slipped down to fourth place after the defeat to Hull and Rodgers will be keen to gain a positive result against Norwich in order to remain on target for a top four finish.

They will be without Daniel Sturridge due to injury but Luis Suarez will no doubt be excited at the prospect of playing Norwich once again having scored hat-tricks in his last two games against the club.