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Rotate or not? This is our Liverpool back four for Stoke City

By David Gate

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Peter Crouch of Stoke City stretches for the ball as Dejan Lovren of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Liverpool at Bet365 Stadium on November 29, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 29: Peter Crouch of Stoke City stretches for the ball as Dejan Lovren of Liverpool looks on during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Liverpool at Bet365 Stadium on November 29, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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Liverpool Stoke van Dijk back four
Liverpool back four v Stoke: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his sides second goal with Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and AFC Bournemouth at Anfield on April 14, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

Center Back: Virgil van Dijk

I have said in these articles before I don’t want to see van Dijk rested until there is a game that doesn’t matter. Beat Stoke and Chelsea lose Swansea? Then sure rest the big man against the Blues or Brighton. Until Champions League is secure he plays. Every minute.

We cannot afford to rest him if we want to win a game. Last week he played and his three defensive teammates all underperformed. While he was able to help us keep clean sheet for first 70 minutes it wasn’t enough to for the full 90.

He can’t do EVERYTHING on his own but the though of a Virgil-less back four brings immediate jolts of anxiety and PTSD from earlier in the season.

Saying all that I have a sinking feeling that Klopp will rest van Dijk on Saturday. That he may just roll with Klavan and Lovren and give VVD a rest before the tip to Rome.

Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren were the pairing when Liverpool got a clean sheet in the 3-0 win at Stoke in the reverse fixture. I think Klopp may take the gamble on Saturday. I hope he doesn’t and that van Dijk leads the back four at Anfield.

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