A recommendation to everybody turning up at Anfield this evening – it’s probably a good idea to bring your boots.
After all, the injury crisis decimating the Liverpool squad means there’s a pretty good chance you may be at least on the bench for the Premier League clash against Luton Town.
To whom, though, is Jurgen Klopp going to turn?
Caoimhin Kelleher in goal for a start. Fortunately there are options at centre-back, with Virgil van Dijk partnered by Ibrahima Konate. Andy Robertson is the left-back and Joe Gomez can return at right-back, the reason for which will be explained in a moment.
Midfield has Wataru Endo as the number six and Alexis Mac Allister now a bit further forward to his right. And Ryan Gravenberch, good off the bench at Brentford, can be to the left.
So, why isn’t Conor Bradley at right-back? Because he’s on the right of the attack, that’s why. And he’s joined by Cody Gakpo down the middle and Luis Diaz on the left.
That leaves Adrian, Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas among the substitutes and, er, an awful lot of youngsters. And possibly you.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Bradley, Gakpo, Diaz
Liverpool’s injury crisis has deepened the point where I’ve contemplating dusting off my old Adidas Predators and taking my shin pads down to Anfield tonight.
If Jurgen Klopp needs an ageing, widening No.10 who can’t press and won’t track back then I am his man. I suspect there are enough already fit, just about, to get a result this evening.
Caoimhin Kelleher makes his fifth Premier League appearance of the season in goal behind a back four of Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas. It’s a much changed back four but should be strong enough.
In midfield, the changes are less pronounced. Wataru Endo starts at the base with Alexis Mac
Allister and Ryan Gravenberch further forward in the two No.8 slots.
That means Harvey Elliott can drift out to the right of the front three with Cody Gakpo leading the line and Luis Diaz on the left.
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Gomez, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
Regardless of who Jurgen Klopp starts against Luton Town tonight, please just get through injury-free!
Liverpool’s ever-growing list of absentees is bordering on the ridiculous. I’m taking no risks with Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez (bench duty at best) so the Reds are down to the bare bones.
Cody Gakpo leads the attack, while Ryan Gravenberch replaces the injured Curtis Jones. That frees up Harvey Elliott to play in the front three with Luis Diaz completing the trio.
Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo start again in midfield, while there’s only one change to my back five. Jarell Quansah comes in for Ibrahima Konate, with the sometimes fragile Frenchman rarely asked to play three times in a week.
Despite Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas offering further rotation options, the rest of the defence is unchanged. Given the enforced changes elsewhere, let’s embrace whatever stability in the side we can get!
My team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Bradley, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Endo, Gravenberch; Elliott, Gakpo, Diaz
