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A fiery Jurgen Kopp came out ahead of this week’s Champions League game against Ajax following suggestions that he should have pushed for another center-back during the transfer window.
With the departure of Dejan Lovren, the list of natural centers to replace the injured Virgil van Dijk is very limited, and Klopp did not take kindly to those with the gift of hindsight.
“We started the season with three centers plus Fabinho as a cover and some youngsters,” Klopp said. “It is difficult to have four world-class center halves.
“If someone wants to tell us that we made a mistake, I think [Jamie] Carragher already mentioned it: there are a few reasons why they don’t do this job. “
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According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, there is a fear that Van Dijk’s injury may be worse than originally thought and that he may be looking on the sidelines longer than the six to eight months initially predicted.
“In terms of the injury itself, I understand that, and this is unofficial, the damage to Virgil van Dijk’s knee is perhaps worse than was initially feared, and it extends beyond the anterior cruciate ligament,” he said. Ornstein. “It would indicate that we will not see Van Dijk on a field until next season.
“We don’t know when he will have the surgery – that is a decision for Van Dijk and those around him.”
Klopp now has to juggle Joe Gomez, Joel Matip and Fabinho until at least January, when a replacement can be brought in and Ajax was the first test for their new defense.
It is worrying that all three have suffered injuries this season and with Matip ruled out against Ajax on Thursday morning (AEDT), it was Fabinho and Gómez who got the nod.
Once again, Ajax have been looted in the transfer window for their greatest assets, but they are still a dangerous team and have more than enough firepower to upset the makeshift center-back pair.
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Fabinho the new Van Dijk!
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And they did, hitting the post early in the second half and with another effort expertly cleared by the excellent Fabinho.
Gomez also took on additional responsibility as, despite Ajax hitting 12 shots over the 90 minutes, the pair ensured Liverpool kept their second clean sheet in the Champions League since the start of last season.
Fabinho was voted best player of the match in his new position and Klopp shone with the performance of his defense without Van Dijk.
“Of course, was there pressure on the situation? Yeah, it’s clear to the two in the back, 100 percent, “Klopp said. “First game together.
“Fabinho can play the position, he actually likes to play. If I had asked him to play right back, I don’t think he would enjoy it as much as he is enjoying the midfield position.
“In our situation at the moment we have to keep those guys in shape and then of course they can help us a lot.
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“I am not surprised that [Fabinho] he plays well in the position, otherwise we would have thought of a different solution, even when that would have been really tricky. I’m very happy for tonight, happy for him, yes, he gave him confidence, he sure helped us ”.
Matip, the most experienced of the trio, is expected to be fit enough to return at the weekend, but for Klopp, Fabinho and Liverpool the first hurdle has been successfully maneuvered.
But there are still many more to jump before reinforcements can be made in January.
