Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has a massive headache.
Let’s face it, Liverpool has had a rough and tumble few weeks points-wise. It began with a hard-luck draw on the road at Brighton, and then a draw in the throwaway Champions League tie with Midtjylland in Denmark before this last lacklustre and uninspired performance at Craven Cottage Sunday, where the Reds could be seen as fortunate to come out with a draw to Fulham.
The only bright spot was a record-setting home win against Wolves.
This is the first time the Reds have dropped points in December since the 2017-18 campaign. The first time in recent memory that the lads have dropped points in back to back Premier League ties.
Let’s face it, we have become so used to Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool machine hoovering up points against all-comers these past two or three years that this autumn and winter campaign has given fans a healthy dose of reality.
This was always going to be an extremely difficult season, it always is for reigning champions. Now add to that challenge the loss of the world’s best centre-back and an injury-ravaged defence and midfield and it is truly amazing that they are still in the hunt at the top of the table.
As well as being through to the final 16 of Champions League; where we learned this morning that their next opponent will be with RB Leipzig.
This brings us to the Anfield match with Tottenham on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho has Spurs playing their best football in the league in many years, where they are top of the heap by virtue of goal difference.
Liverpool has to be eyeing this match as a must-win to give them some separation from the lead pack, which has a mere five points separating first and ninth position.
It’s a wide-open affair at this point, where half a dozen teams could be seen as legitimate challengers for the Reds crown. Realistically, this is probably more like two or three, but who can say with the fashion this campaign has played out thus far?
Long-term injuries to VVD, Joe Gomez, Thiago and now summer acquisition Diogo Jota (out 6-8 weeks), have given the gaffer a teamsheet headache for the past three months. Kostas Tsimikas has suffered an injury which makes him unavailable for this Spurs tie.
The return of Allison from his second spell out, as well as the return of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are a breath of fresh air for Klopp and the Reds; considering Ox has not played a single minute in this campaign.
No matter which way Klopp looks at things, he’s got a massive selection headache that he needs to get right. The title challenge could rest on it.