Jurgen Klopp has some selection decisions to make as Liverpool take on Bournemouth on Saturday.
Now onto the fourth game of the Premier League season, Liverpool are still hunting their first win. Not where we expected to be after games against Fulham, Crystal Palace and a dismal Manchester United.
Nevertheless, that’s where Liverpool are right now. Whether it’s down to injuries, attitude, fatigue, or a combination of all, Liverpool aren’t playing well and look out of ideas.
As a result, Klopp may have to try something different. With so many absences at the moment, that isn’t going to be easy to do. But young forward Fabio Carvalho is one who the manager could introduce.
After a bright few cameos, including an encouraging display at Old Trafford last night, Saturday should see him start for the first time.
Question marks over midfield yet to be answered
All summer long the main question marks over Liverpool were in the midfield. Is it strong enough? Are the options too injury-prone? Do we have enough bodies?
As it turns out, the answers are pretty much what virtually everybody guessed. No, yes and no again.
With a midfield three of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Harvey Elliott looking desperately immobile last night, Klopp has to alter things. Carvalho is virtually last man standing in that respect.
Fabinho will surely come back in – what a mistake not starting him last night turned out to be. But alongside him, a three of Carvalho and Elliott looks nicely balanced and, compared to what we saw last night, full of invention.
Liverpool in need of something different
It’s true that Carvalho has been signed more as a forward option. But with options so thin on the ground in midfield, he’s definitely worth trying a little deeper.
He has the ball carrying ability that Liverpool often lack in midfield. With Fabinho sitting, he could also roam a little further forward and attempt to pick a Bournemouth defence who are certain to sit deep.
The only issue could perhaps be that with Liverpool desperate for points, Klopp may opt for a more experienced trio. But that hasn’t worked for The Reds so far.
Something has to change. £8m man Carvalho can offer that little bit of spark that Liverpool have been missing. He has to start on Saturday.
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