Liverpool: This is the rotated back four we want against Bournemouth

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 17: Ragnar Klavan of Liverpool during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 17: Ragnar Klavan of Liverpool during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Liverpool at Vitality Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool Bournemouth van dijk
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – APRIL 10: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool celebrates his side’s victory after the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Second Leg match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on April 10, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images,) /

Center Back: Virgil van Dijk

There is one defender you would love to rest and wrap up in cotton wool but he is also the one defender we cannot do without if we want to win.

Virgil van Dijk recovered from his terrible start to Tuesday’s game with a magnificent 88 minutes after his early error. That one mistake aside the Reds defense kept Man City to just three shots on goal across the two legs.

The Dutchman has less starts this season than Dejan Lovren. He should be fit and able to play another game this weekend. We have a week until the next fixture which should allow for decent recovery time.

If we are considering resting our key defender it should be the Stoke City game which is sandwiched between the Champions League Semi-Finals. The Potters have virtually no attacking threat. Even with them fighting to stay in the Premier League I would back Klavan and Lovren in that game.