Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League Round of 16 with a 2-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Wednesday.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Jurgen Klopp confirmed that he will go strong in his final two group stage games, but the boss needs to avoid the risk that cost the Reds in 2020.
Having said that, I have thought about five players that could really use more game time. Not against sub-par opposition in the EFL or FA Cup but against top-class opposition in Porto and AC Milan.
Joe Gomez
The Englishman has been on the bench all season aside from a start against Preston North End, a start against Norwich City also in the Carabao Cup and a rare Champions League chance against AC Milan at Anfield.
Those three starts aside, he has been limited to cameos off the bench. However, as Liverpool have already reached the knockout stages, Klopp should give him a start alongside Ibrahima Konate in the final two games of the round.
Divock Origi
The man who doesn’t score normal goals. I have a joke with my friends that the Belgian either scores terrible goals in important games or sensational goals in unimportant matches or against sub-par opponents.
His scorpion kick against Preston North End is one such example. We all know that Origi is capable of much more than warming the bench all season and, hopefully, Klopp gives him a chance against either Porto or AC Milan to show why he should be given more minutes in the Premier League.
Takumi Minamino
The Japanese international is arguably my favourite fringe player in the squad and I still think there is a lot more to come from. But I’m not convinced Liverpool’s style of play suits him.
Since Philippe Coutinho left the club, Jurgen Klopp has rarely used an attacking midfielder in his squad and that’s where Minamino thrives – between the lines.
If Klopp wants to test the role of an attacking midfielder in his squad, he should give Minamino minutes playing alongside Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota in the final group stage games of the season.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The Englishman, as I discussed on Thursday, seems to be back in love with the football game and delivered an outstanding performance against Atletico Madrid.
However, with Thiago and Fabinho back in contention for starting places, I think Chamberlain will drop to the bench but Klopp must give him minutes in the Champions League to keep his good form going.
The Englishman is no stranger to delivering top performances in Europe but he needs the chance to show Klopp that he can still be an influential player for the Reds.
Kostas Tsimikas
The Greek full-back has been fantastic every time he’s taken the field for Liverpool this season and, after a difficult first season on Merseyside, he seems to be one of the Reds’ top performers.
Loyalty and familiarity will still see Andy Robertson start in big games, even if his form is still up and down after the international break, but Tsimikas deserves to start for the Reds in the Premier League.
Failing that, he absolutely has to kick-off both Liverpool’s remaining games in Europe.