My back four? Guess!

PEP GUARDIOLA will continue to keep opposition managers guessing about his defensive selections and says team rotation is a positive.

Guardiola (left) has five top central defenders to choose from this term when everyone is fit. He surprised Manchester United by playing Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake together rather than Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte.

Even with John Stones and Kyle Walker out injured, it’s difficult to predict the back end of Guardiola’s starting XI at Anfield today — and that’s the way he wants it.

‘I’m a big fan of rotating the players so everybody is involved. I’m not a big fan of playing the same 11,’ he said. ‘We have to look each time which players will be the most reliable because we’re playing every few days and you don’t want to worsen injures.

‘I rotate first because of the physical demands but also because I want everyone to feel part of something. When you never play, that’s difficult. Everyone has the chance to play 10 minutes, 45, 90. After that, it depends on the players.’

Dias had been first name on the team sheet for two years but even he now faces competition.

Stones is still a week away from returning and last week against Southampton Dias partnered Ake, with Akanji switching to right back.