Liverpool have three injuries to worry about since the originally scheduled game against Manchester United. It may well force Jurgen Klopp into a high-risk change.
Jurgen Klopp had Ozan Kabak starting at the back against Manchester United two weeks ago. James Milner was a surprised addition to midfield, too, with Gini Wijnaldum on the bench.
Unfortunately, Klopp has to tear those plans up. Liverpool have suffered more injuries since and they’ll change the strategy against United.
The most obvious question is who partners Nat Phillips at the back? Rhys Williams did it against Southampton on Saturday but is he the best option this time around?
A Danny Ings-less Saints side aren’t the threat United will be, after all. We’re not entirely sure Williams will cope, given his inexperience. He’s not a player suited to a high line in the first place, let alone against a team as potent on the counter as today’s opponents.
There’s only really one other option, however – Fabinho. But with Milner missing, that would deplete the numbers in midfield even further. Wijnaldum will come in to replace the vice-captain but who fills in for Fabinho?
We’d suggest Naby Keita but he’s injured as well. There is Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but Klopp hasn’t shown much faith in them as starters recently.
We think this might point Liverpool towards a high-risk change, then – 4-2-4.
Liverpool battle injuries vs United
The 4-2-4 isn’t perfect – far from it – but no Liverpool team will be perfect today. Thanks to the latest injuries, it will be another misfit side that won’t operate smoothly.
Perhaps Klopp should embrace that, then, and lean into the one area of the side without missing stars – the attack. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota should all be fit and available.
Putting all four out there is a little crazy but Liverpool might need to be just that. They effectively have to go to United and play for three points.
That’s usually suicide, given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side love playing on the counter-attack. But Liverpool have little choice – they need goals.
Going 4-2-4 embraces that and perhaps gives Liverpool their best chance of scoring those goals.
It would mean a midfield pairing of Thiago and Wijnaldum. We don’t particularly like them as a duo in this system but they’re the only trusted two Klopp has right now. And if he has to gamble on another player, why not make it someone he does trust by playing a forward?
No matter what team Klopp opts for, it will be far from perfect. But 4-2-4 might allow him to get as close as he can.
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