Jurgen Klopp to give first verdict on Ozan Kabak tomorrow

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Jurgen Klopp will give his Ozan Kabak verdict tomorrow when Liverpool face Chelsea. Just how much does he trust the 20-year-old?

Liverpool host Chelsea tomorrow in a massive game. It’s unquestionably one of the biggest this season – it could end up being the biggest.

Both clubs had title ambitions at the start of the season but things didn’t head that way. Instead, they’ll compete for a top-four spot.

Jurgen Klopp must get his team right, then. It’s not simple. His defence, in particular has no easy answer.

Ozan Kabak partnered Jordan Henderson at first. Then the captain’s injury thrust Nat Phillips into the lineup.

We don’t doubt that Klopp would pursue with each of them if not for the fact Fabinho is back. The Brazilian has played centre-back almost all season.

We expect Fabinho to return there but it’s certainly not an obvious selection. Klopp may well play him in midfield.

Whatever he does, it will reveal his early verdict on Kabak.

Ozan Kabak

If Klopp plays Kabak tomorrow, he’s doing so even though he doesn’t have to. He could play Phillips alongside Fabinho. He could even bring Ben Davies in for a debut.

Thus starting the 20-year-old is a real show of faith. It suggests he’s the top natural centre-back at the club right now. Kabak would be the one playing every game.

That’s a degree of trust, then. Klopp will only pick Kabak over Phillips if he trusts him to deliver the right style.

He has been picking Kabak, of course. But that was based on what he could do, rather than what he had done. Klopp has seen what Kabak offers now and Fabinho’s return offers him a chance to change his mind.

The big one will be if Fabinho starts in midfield. That suggests Klopp actually trusts Kabak quite a lot. So much so that a midfielder would drop out to keep him in the side.

Fabinho has played at the back so often that it’s clear Klopp’s standards are high, there. He won’t move the Brazilian back on a whim – he wants to see defending he can trust.

Liverpool have the opportunity to sign Kabak permanently at the end of the season for a reported £18m. Tomorrow’s team-sheet will go some ways to telling us how likely that is.

We’ll certainly no what kind of fight Kabak is up against for winning a long-term Anfield future.