Liverpool must play Fabinho or Jordan Henderson at the back
Liverpool must play one of Jordan Henderson or Fabinho at center-back against Leicester City on Saturday.
After that awful performance against Manchester City, the temptation will be there to rip things up and start anew.
In this context, that would mean throwing Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies into the starting XI and hoping they gel together and cope with Jamie Vardy, Harvey Barnes, and James Maddison.
Liverpool must pick between Jordan Henderson or Fabinho
For an inexperienced starlet from Germany and a Championship warrior, that’s a thankless task. While there would be clear benefits, the potential risk is far greater than the estimated return and Jurgen Klopp must strike this selection from his thinking.
A move of this magnitude would take everyone by surprise but it would instantly improve the midfield by putting two of our best back in their natural positions.
The security Henderson offers Trent Alexander-Arnold allows Liverpool to attack with greater fluidity, pace, and power while the screening job Fabinho does allows the team to press higher up the field.
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Liverpool have a difficult choice to make
Both of those are admirable traits and key reasons why Liverpool was so successful last season. The desire to have those things back is understandable and shared among the fans.
However, Klopp must be patient, but he’s also going to have to make a difficult choice. One of Henderson or Fabinho should be released to play in midfield, as Kabak must surely start, but who?
Would it be Henderson, who offers Alexander-Arnold that protection, or Fabinho, who is the best defensive midfielder in the league? Logic would suggest the latter since Henderson was only press-ganged into defensive duties following the injury to Joel Matip. Fabinho was the clear first-choice center-back out of Klopp’s midfield options.
As for Kabak, now must be the time to start the Turkish international. He’s only on a loan deal with an option to buy, and time is already running out for him to make a contribution.
Liverpool wouldn’t have signed him if they didn’t believe he could play, so now after 12 days with the squad, it’s time for him to play.
But not with Davies, not yet.