Team News: Stewart Downing starts for Liverpool against Udinese

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will deploy winger Stewart Downing in his starting lineup against Udinese in their Europa League encounter tonight.

Downing will be joined in midfield by Oussama Assaidi, Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson and Jonjo Shelvey, with Fabio Borini the lone striker upfront.

Striker Luis Suarez and midfielders Steven Gerrard and Nuri Sahin will all start tonight's Group A fixture on the bench.

Udinese will have star striker Antonio Di Natale spearheading their attack at Anfield; the Italian was dropped for the Bianconeri's Serie A clash with Genoa at the weekend.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Coates, Carragher, Robinson, Assaidi, Henderson, Allen, Shelvey, Downing, Borini

Udinese: Brkic, Danilo, Faraoni, Domizzi, Benatia, Pasquale, Armero, Badu, Pinz, Di Natale