Liverpool still haven’t learned from last January’s mistake

Liverpool still haven’t learned from their Nathaniel Clyne mistake last January and they were willing to make the same ones this year.

Because in 2019 they let Nathaniel Clyne leave to Bournemouth on loan, despite the lack of cover at right-back. And the Echo have reported that Jurgen Klopp would have sanctioned a similar move this season.

Here we are, 12 months on but no further advance in terms of squad depth. Trent Alexander-Arnold is still the main man, but if he has to drop out of the side there are precious few senior options.

James Milner can play there, but he’s injured now and that isn’t the best place for Milly to be. Joe Gomez can also shuttle across the backline, but his fitness record isn’t fantastic and it would be silly to move him from central defence.

Neco Williams is the youth option, and yes he has looked good. But asking Williams to play to Alexander-Arnold’s levels for an extended period of time if Trent goes down is a much different proposition.

Nathaniel Clyne is coming back from a serious knee injury and his contract expires in the summer. Klopp and Liverpool should give him six more months to prove his fitness in a pressure free environment as he looks for a club for the start of 2020/2021.

The England international might even pick up a few more first team minutes and show Premier League managers that he can still hold is own at this level. That temporary spell at Bournemouth has productive for all parties and his ACL going in preseason was an awful blow for the right-back.

But now the 28-year-old should be kept around Liverpool to act as back-up to Alexander-Arnold, continue his quest for full fitness and tout himself around clubs when they have more time to do their due diligence in the summer.