Jurgen Klopp sends message to Europe with show of Liverpool squad depth

Add as preferred source on Google

Jurgen Klopp immediately shows off his new Liverpool luxury with his lineup vs Leicester City this evening. The Reds’ boss is sending a message.

Liverpool announced their lineup to face Leicester City within the last half hour – and it’s a very interesting one. They’re certainly not messing around and this really looks like a message to the rest of the league.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Jones, Thiago, Diaz, Jota, Firmino.

Subs: Kelleher, Konate, Milner, Keita, Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Minamino, Tsimikas, Elliott.

So we’ve got the return of Thiago, a Premier League debut – and first Liverpool start – for Luis Diaz and Curtis Jones retaining his place in midfield. It’s an incredible Liverpool XI for a variety of reasons.

But we want to focus on the bench. With this lineup, Jurgen Klopp is making sure everyone knows that Liverpool are something to worry about in 2022.

Jurgen Klopp sends message with Liverpool lineup

Mohamed Salah is on the bench and Liverpool’s attack still looks lethal. Sadio Mane isn’t even in the squad. Harvey Elliott sits on the bench despite looking fantastic on his return, while Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain join him.

Jordan Henderson doesn’t make the squad through injury and yet the starting midfield looks complete. There’s Fabinho to shield the back four, Thiago to add creativity and experience, and Jones to burst forward with some drive.

Never before have Liverpool had depth like this. Klopp is showing off a luxury he knows he’s never really had and it’s one that should worry Europe.

Because if Diaz is ready to start Premier League games, if Liverpool can sit out this many midfielders, and if they can boast such strength in depth in defence, they can compete on four fronts in 2022. That’s exactly what they’ll try to do, of course.

But there were question marks. Did Klopp trust his midfield? Would Diaz be ready from the off? Is Thiago even fit? The answer appears to be a resounding yes.