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Leighton Clarkson could well make his Champions League debut against Atalanta on Wednesday. Circumstances will almost certainly compel Jurgen Klopp to intervene in the matter.
Jurgen Klopp is trying to handle an injury crisis. It does not have Jordan Henderson, Thiago, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield.
Then Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez’s injuries mean Fabinho is now a defender. That’s one less in midfield as a result.
So the last thing Klopp really needed was a terrible match list, but that’s what he has.
Liverpool will play Atalanta in the Champions League on Wednesday night and then get an early start on Saturday against Brighton. That’s difficult to handle independently, let alone with half of the first team missing.
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So, really, there are three midfield options left: Gini Wijnaldum, Curtis Jones and James Milner. All three played the full 90 minutes against Leicester City.
It is difficult to see, then, how they all start against Atalanta. Especially if Klopp wants them to face Brighton, which is arguably a bigger game at this stage.
Thus we see that at least one of them leaves, creating a space in the midfield. In fact, it is very likely that there are two.
But who can enter? Well, judging by Sunday’s bench, Leighton Clarkson could face Atalanta.
The 19-year-old has played first-team soccer before, but only on weakened FA Cup and League Cup teams. He has certainly never played in the Champions League.
However, Clarkson has been training with the first team during the international break. In fact, Klopp chose him as one of the “sensational” young players to do so.
If the boss wants to rest any of his stars, he will probably have to play Clarkson in the middle on his Champions League debut. It’s hard to see how else he builds a lineup with two central midfielders, much less three.
It would be a huge moment for Clarkson. One that could potentially make your career.
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