Liverpool 0-5 Aston Villa: talkSPORT are right about Lallana and Keita

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp should have left Adam Lallana and Naby Keita behind for the Carabao Cup clash against Aston Villa.

This was a point raised by Andy Goldstein, when he was talking following the 5-0 loss to Villa over on Tuesday night. The Reds were forced to field a side of U23 players which the most experienced players, such as Herbie Kane and Pedro Chirivella, having accumulated just a handful of senior appearances.

Jurgen Klopp didn’t leave a single senior player on Merseyside as the German took a strong squad to Qatar for the Club World Cup, but he should have left the likes of Naby Keita and Adam Lallana at home to provide guidance and experience for the kids.

It would have been a good chance to split the squad and ensure every single senior member of the fit got a game – but now Klopp is faced with the prospect of letting fringe players kick their heels for another two games.

Not only that, but players on the fringe of the first team – like Curtis Jones – could have tested themselves against Premier League opposition. Instead Luis Longstaff, who won’t make another first team appearance for a few years, was handed this unique opportunity.

You can understand why the club prioritised the Club World Cup over the Carabao Cup but some of the decisions are a bit weird. A split squad could have given Liverpool the chance to compete on two fronts and advance to the semi-final of the League Cup.

A little bit more experience in the side would have done the team the world of good and would have given them a fighting chance of progression. Instead, Klopp handed Villa a free pass when he really didn’t need to.

You can’t criticise the club for much but on this occasion, they have got it wrong.