The Luis Diaz Debate: Klopp’s Predicament and the Choice between Formation and Individual Performance
Liverpool’s next Premier League match is against Chelsea, and Jurgen Klopp faces some selection quandaries.
With a dreadful Premier League defeat at Manchester City, Liverpool reached yet another low in an increasingly turbulent season.
The Reds took an early lead thanks to Mohamed Salah, only to lose 4-1 at home to the champions. Liverpool will now try to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat when they travel to Chelsea on Tuesday.
And now we look ahead to see what changes Jurgen Klopp might make when his team returns to action.
The Liverpool team is facing difficult decisions as a result of their poor performance in the second half at the weekend.
Despite leaking four times, goalkeeper Alisson Becker escaped criticism. He is still the preferred goalkeeper ahead of Caomhin Kelleher and Adrian.
However, positions elsewhere may be available. Andy Robertson was well below his best, with Kostas Tsimikas replacing him at left-back before full-time, and Trent Alexander-Arnold had a difficult afternoon. Joe Gomez and James Milner are both options at right back.
Centre-back could also see changes, with neither Ibrahima Konate nor Virgil van Dijk shining at the Etihad. Gomez and Joel Matip were on the bench, as was Nat Phillips. Rhys Williams has been dealing with a minor issue.
Liverpool are hampered by a lack of midfield availability, with Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita out and Stefan Bajcetic out for the rest of the season.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were at the base of a two-man engine room at the weekend, but at least one of them could be rotated if Klopp goes back to a 4-3-3, with Harvey Elliott, who was on the right at City, moving inside.
Both Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came off the bench, but Arthur Melo was left out, and Curtis Jones has missed five of the last six Premier League games.
The question for Liverpool up front is whether to rush the return of Luis Diaz, who Klopp hinted last week would be ready for bench duty against Arsenal next Sunday.
If not, the other decision is whether to go back to a three-man front with Darwin Nunez expected to be fully fit after his ankle injury. That would mean Mohamed Salah returning to the right flank, with Cody Gakpo and Roberto Firmino vying for a central role and Diogo Jota and Nunez vying for the left flank.
There are options, with Jota capable of spearheading the attack and Firmino or Gakpo arriving from deep in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Klopp has also used a 4-4-2 formation at times this season, and much will be determined by how best to deal with Chelsea’s expected three-man defense. Fabio Carvalho, who was not in the City squad, is a more unlikely choice.
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