Liverpool are currently nine points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League table. The Reds are eight points clear of their nearest challengers Leicester City and Chelsea; the pair are separated on goal difference in second and third respectively. Despite a convincing 3-1 win over City at the weekend, Jürgen Klopp must change his midfield for the next game.
Jürgen Klopp needs to change his midfield after the win against Manchester City. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Against the Premier League champions, Liverpool lined up with a midfield of Fabinho, Gini Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson. This was the perfect choice for the game in question.
Man City were always going to seek to dominate possession, it is just in their nature. With the Blues controlling 55% of the ball, the Reds needed a pack in the middle to hound the opposition, to make their possession impossible to create with. They did just that. Gini Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson did an excellent job of unsettling the visitors when they were on the ball. Fabinho cut everything out.
Jürgen Klopp needs to change his midfield after the win against Manchester City. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
However, this is the only Premier League fixture that we need this trio for. We are expected to dominate the ball in every other game this season. Jürgen Klopp has to change his midfield for the trip to Crystal Palace.
When we journey to Selhurst Park, we will control the ball throughout the game. When we have the lion’s share of possession we need a dynamic player such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Naby Keita to break down the opposition.
The Ox was recently named our Player of the Month for October, he scored four in four games during that spell. His attacking instincts, flair and eye for goal are all vital when we play sides less inclined to attack us than Man City were.
Earlier in the season when we lined up with Wijnaldum and Henderson in front of Fabinho, we looked stagnant in possession against weaker sides. Oxlade-Chamberlain or Keita need to come in for Gini when we face compact, defensive sides.
We need two midfields: one that we play against a low block and one that we play against the likes of Manchester City.