Liverpool vs Southampton: Klopp ‘will have to’ mix midfield up for Saints clash
Liverpool take on Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, and one leading journalist has said that Jurgen Klopp will be forced to shuffle his pack.
The Reds gaffer will switch things around for the Saints, wrote James Pearce in a Q+A for The Athletic.
Pearce observed that both Jordan Henderson and Brazilian holding midfielder Fabinho were exhausted by the end of the game against Southampton, and with plenty of options Klopp will ‘freshen things up’.
This is good news for those who called for Naby Keita to start against Norwich, who missed the Super Cup due to an injury. The gaffer wants to hear positive news about Keita, added Pearce, who can’t seem to catch a break recently.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who started in Istanbul on Wednesday night, is also an option from midfield – although he looked a bit out of place and could take some time to get back to that devastating form he had before the injury.
Southampton suffered a shock defeat to Burnley last weekend and will be itching to set that right, although Liverpool are still massive favourites to come away three points.
There have been concerns over their defence, and Klopp will want to set that straight with a defence that protects the back four more. In light of that, maybe he’ll select the more defensively minded trio of Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho?
Wijnaldum has featured heavily so far and is probably due a rotation out, although the Dutchman did get a breather against Chelsea – as did Milner.
In other news, the gaffer has given his opinion of the mess that is Brexit during his post-match interview after the Super Cup win.
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Klopp maintained his opinion that the move is a mistake, an opinion that fits with the left-leaning philosophy of Liverpool and the club.