Jack Hallows explains why he feels Danny Ings deserves a start against Tottenham in the EFL Cup match against Tottenham on Tuesday.
With Mauricio Pochettino having admitted he’s likely to field a weakened side against Liverpool in our upcoming EFL Cup tie at Anfield, via the Liverpool Echo, now is the perfect time for Danny Ings to be given his chance.
The Englishman has endured a horror start to life at Liverpool in the last 15 months, breaking into the first team under Rodgers only to tear his Anterior Cruciate Ligament in training and be forced to miss practically the whole of Klopp’s first season in charge. Since appearing off the bench on the final day of last season at the Hawthorns, he has only played 27 minutes of first team football, coming off the bench in the 3-0 victory over Derby.
Since his injury, Danny Ings has been exemplary with his attitude. Having been forced to play with the U23s due to the form of Firmino and the talent on hand of Origi and Sturridge, the Englishman hasn’t complained once and has just knuckled down and gone about his business. His business? Scoring goals.
For the Liverpool U23s side, Ings boasts an impressive total of seven goals so far, including a hat trick against Ipswich Town’s U23s and three goals in three Premier League two fixtures.
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With Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi totalling just four first team goals between them, then on form alone, Ings should realistically be a no brainer. While he’s obviously lowest in the pecking order currently, a goal or two against Spurs could easily change that and would do wonders for his confidence.
Ings not only deserves a chance but if given one, he’d be quite fantastically suited to Klopp’s system. The forward is a willing runner and would be more than happy to lead the press in the way that Divock Origi did last season. Aside from a goal threat – he can score with both feet and his head – Ings would give the Reds pace up top, another fit and adds a tireless worker to add to the XI and another player who lives by the “it’s not over until it’s over,” mantra that Klopp personifies.
Henry Jackson of This Is Anfield has also suggested that perhaps with their current contrasting fortunes, a role reversal between Origi and Ings would potentially benefit both of them for a short period of time.
With Ings currently in such goal scoring form and displaying fantastic attitude and the will to win a place in the team it would be much deserved to see him step out onto the pitch on Tuesday night. If he’s not going to get minutes in the up, when is he going to get them? Klopp’s insisted he has a future at this club, time to let him prove it.
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