Georginio Wijnaldum needs to sit out against Bournemouth

Liverpool take on Bournemouth on Saturday at Anfield, but Georginio Wijnaldum can’t afford to start the game. This is why.

And it’s not really all his fault, although the performance against Watford didn’t help. It’s more of an accumulation of a number of different factors that mean Jurgen Klopp should make this difficult decision.

Because one thing is clear: we need a leader in midfield. We shouldn’t need a leader. This side have enough collective ability and experience and desire to be able to produce match winning performances without Jordan Henderson, but for some reason they can’t.

So that means James Milner should start the game. He has the ability to toast the rest of the team when they aren’t playing to the right standards. He has the fight, drive and inner dog to be able to drag the midfield up a level and that’s why he should play.

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But things have also been stale in the engine room. There have been no runners trying to break the lines, no creativity and little drive forward – which means this is the time for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Naby Keita has pulled himself out of the conversation with that drab game against West Ham and Fabinho will doubtless continue as Klopp tries to force the Brazilian back to form.

All of this equals one thing: no space in the team for Georginio Wijnaldum, one of the manager’s most trusted lieutenants.

But there will be on a one-out, one-in policy with the straight swap of Milner and Wijnaldum, so Liverpool shouldn’t lose too much in that regard.

Bournemouth are in bad form but they can turn good teams over and the loss to Watford should sharpen the squad’s mind in regards to sides hovering around the relegation zone.

Normally Wijnaldum would be an automatic pick for Liverpool, but on this occasion the Dutchman needs to sit out.