Both Thiago and Fabinho reportedly missed training ahead of Leicester City v Liverpool this weekend. Here are two options for Jurgen Klopp if the duo don’t make it.
It would be devastating to lose both Thiago and Fabinho against Leicester City. That appears to be a possibility, however.
Photos from training showed neither player and the Liverpool Echo confirms they weren’t out there with the rest of the team.
So how could Klopp react? Here are two options for the Liverpool boss.
New defence
Yes, yet another defensive combination. We’ve seen between 10 to 12,000 already this season and it may be time for another.
If Fabinho can’t play, we imagine Jordan Henderson will retain his place alongside the replacement. And that replacement surely has to be Ozan Kabak.
Klopp may find it too early to throw him in but is there any better option available? He has the most top-flight experience at the back of anyone else – by an absolute mile, too.
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He might only be 20 but that doesn’t change his experience. Simple as that. Kabak has to come into the side if Fabinho isn’t available.
It’s a risk, of course, but literally any partnership will be. That’s just the situation in defence right now.
Young gun
Liverpool don’t have too many midfield options to replace Thiago. In fact, there are probably only two.
Liverpool could put Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in there or call James Milner into the team after his was benched against Manchester City.
Now, for us, it should be Milner. That’s not a reflection on either player but after his performance against City, we think Klopp should build this midfield around Curtis Jones.
The Scouser was fantastic and he should be handed a licence to get forward at the King Power Stadium. But that means Milner is the better option with Wijnaldum.
Oxlade-Chamberlain would also want to get forward all the time, of course, and we don’t think Wijnaldum could cover both players on his own.
The Milner option is more conservative, of course, but we’re away at Leicester with a make-shift defence. The midfield can’t be all-out attack with any expectation of getting a win.
Put some faith in Jones to be the driving force from midfield on his own. We think he’s got what it takes.