How will Liverpool lineup this weekend...and how should they?
- Oli Gent
- Aug 7, 2018
- 2 min read
This report was published on the Eurosport website. You can read it at: https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/how-liverpool-will-lineup-this-weekend-vs-how-they-should_sto6876835/story.shtml
Liverpool come into the season full of confidence, backed by the big spend of Jurgen Klopp throughout the window.
The midfield has been upgraded, and there has been an attempt to strengthen the depth in the final third. Yet their biggest deal was the arrival of Alisson Becker, who will sure up the defence from between the sticks and ruin Loris Karius’ Liverpool career to even greater extent.
The Champions League finalists will kick off as second favourites behind Manchester City, and they’re seen as the Citizens’ main rivals for a reason, as they dished out one of only two City defeats of the Premier League season last year.
HOW THEY WILL LINEUP:
Klopp shouldn’t change much tactically this summer. Granted, his rivals will know how the Reds play but it is almost impossible to stop when they’re on song.
The most interesting questions are still in defence, where Klopp has refused to really strengthen properly. They should lineup with the same back four as they fielded in Kiev, with youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold set to get the nod over compatriot Nathaniel Clyne, bolstered by his World Cup experience.
Dejan Lovren, “one of the best centre-backs in the world” according to himself, will get another chance at proving his self-given title next to Dutch man mountain Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence, while Georginio Wijnaldum will most likely be the one to replace the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the midfield three, due to Klopp's failed pursuit of Lyon captain Nail Fakir.
HOW THEY SHOULD LINEUP:
There isn't much to change when it comes to a squad that reached a Champions League final, but there is only one real question on Reds fans’ lips and that is the centre-half dilemma.
Klopp has made his intentions clear that he doesn’t feel he needs another central defender, but the rest of the world thinks otherwise, and there are a host of targets still being linked with a move to Anfield. Notable names include Senegalese ox Kalidou Koulibaly and Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, both of whom would complement and pair with van Dijk exceptionally.
Two towering centre-halves with fabulous pace, power and aerial ability would fully plug the holes in a leaky Reds backline, and possibly even be the key that unlocks a first top-flight title of the Premier League era.
Two towering centre-halves with fabulous pace, power and aerial ability would fully plug the holes in a leaky Reds backline, and possibly even be the key that unlocks a first top-flight title of the Premier League era.
Wijnaldum is the most likely to start on the opening day if Fekir isn’t signed, and he offers a good box-to-box option flanking Fabinho with Naby Keita, with the Guinean and the Dutchman energetically covering every blade of grass to help Klopp’s fluid pressing game.
And, of course, we know that the fab three will remain the same, with new man Xherdan Shaqiri an option off the bench if a bit of magic is needed.
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