The Liverpool boss has given an important update.
Not again? Was the consensus around social media as Liverpool’s makeshift centre-back, Fabinho, hobbled off the field in the club’s Champions League group stage tie. It was a scathing blow and another dire indictment of the Reds’ current lack of options at the back.
More from Rush The Kop
- Set to return, Virgil Van Dijk facing heavy criticism back home
- Liverpool making late comebacks all the rage once again
- Wolves tilt gives Klopp opportunity to tinker with lineup following international duty
- Players to watch in the matchup with Wolves
- Predicting Liverpool’s Next Five Premier League Fixtures
Fabinho, who has been able to steady the ship in Van Dijk’s absence, picking up an injury has come at the worst time. It means the Reds have just one available senior centre-back for the clash against West Ham at the weekend.
Unless Jurgen Klopp converts another one of his players into a centre-back, it means the German will have to play an academy player in the starting line-up.
Especially, after his latest comments.
Speaking after the match via Empire of the Kop, Klopp said the following:
"“Fab, I don’t know. Muscle injuries are like this, you get the result tomorrow morning probably, we have to wait for that.”"
The way in which he phrased his words make the Reds’ situation look rather bleak.
Klopp deployed Rhys Williams at the back in the Champions League last night and the young centre-back played amicably in the role. He was also rather stalwart in the recent League Cup game against Lincoln City.
However, the leap from the opposition he has faced compared to the Premier League is a steep one.
West Ham are in particularly good form and have proved sturdy adversaries for some of the top club’s this season including Tottenham.
They are especially potent in the air and while Williams has the height to compete in aerial duels, he has often been out-muscled in recent situations due to his frame. Coming up against players like Michael Antonio and Tomas Soucek will be a tough ask.
His aerial ability will of course improve with time, but for now the club have to hope, Rhys Williams is ready to make the next step.
It looks like they will have to deploy him for the foreseeable future at least.
It will be a major opportunity for the youngster to impress and to show Jurgen Klopp and the fans his ability.
If he grabs it, he can follow the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold into the first team.
Only time will tell, but one thing is for certain, every Reds supporter will be spurring the young man on against West Ham if Rhys Williams does get the nod.
In the meantime, the Reds will be hoping for the speedy recovery of their current centre-back options.
Do you think Rhys Williams is ready for the first team?