Liverpool vs Southampton: Henderson vs Fabinho – who avoids the axe?

Liverpool travel down south to take on Southampton at St Mary’s on Saturday afternoon, but who should avoid the axe out of Jordan Henderson or Fabinho?

Both players looked knackered after the European Super Cup win against Chelsea on Wednesday night and James Pearce thinks that Jurgen Klopp will shuffle his pack. But which midfielder deserves to stay in the team?

Going off pure instinct, it’s difficult to drop Fab. He’s the only pure holding midfielder in the side, covers the ground really well and does the dark arts deliciously.

But, that’s about as much use as a chocolate fireguard if Fabinho doesn’t do those things to the best of his ability. And lately he’s not really been cutting the mustard.

Liverpool’s back four have been left too exposed at times this season and the midfield shield needs to take some responsibility for that. Henderson has been used to protect and shuttle, but that’s not his best role.

Georginio Wijnaldum and James Milner both came off fairly early against Chelsea and will be rested and ready to go. Klopp has excellent squad depth around the central midfield, and that’s without bringing Naby Keita or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into the conversation.

Swapping Milner out for Fabinho would seem like the most natural movement. Henderson is the captain, is full blooded and gives something going forward as well – a new(ish) freedom he’s been allowed recently and one Hendo is cherishing.

Getting a lot of minutes in the legs is something Klopp probably wants to avoid too early on, especially with those options available to him. But you can’t really see him making wholesale changes to the side.

At his best you’d want Fab in the side, and another game might give him the momentum and the minutes to achieve that. But if the Brazilian isn’t hitting his straps, rotation is required and it comes down to him or Henderson then the skipper has to take priority.