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While most Premier League coaches will view this international hiatus as a well-ended respite from what has been a crazy start to the 2020/21 season, a fidgety Jurgen Klopp will likely have something on his mind.
When Premier League football returns in a week, the Liverpool manager will have to face Leicester without three members of a defensive four that were so crucial to the Reds lifting the English title last season.
Center-half pair Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez could be out for the season, while right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is also out with a calf problem.
There are no easy games in the Premier League, but Liverpool’s looming clash with the Foxes is particularly difficult with three key defenders missing.
Not only have Leicester enjoyed such a strong start to the season that they are currently in first place, with the third-most goals scored of any team in the division, but they also have one Jamie Vardy at the helm.
Last season’s Golden Boot winner started this period with eight goals in just seven appearances and will relish the opportunity to tear apart what will be something of a makeshift Liverpool backline.
So how exactly should Klopp look to remedy what seems like a dangerous situation?
GIVEMESPORT writers Christy Malyan, Jack Saville and Matt Dawson attempt to answer a simple question: how should Liverpool prepare their defense against Leicester City?
Jack Saville – Williams, Fabinho, Matip, Robertson
“No one could have imagined the magnitude of the crisis Klopp would find himself in this season, but the fact that Liverpool did not recruit a new defender this summer seems like a rare mistake by Michael Edwards. The Reds took a chance on the not signing a replacement for Dejan Lovren and he already seems to have failed.
In the current situation, the defense almost recovered. Andrew Robertson and Joel Matip will naturally resume their positions at left and center back respectively, and one imagines Fabinho will partner with the latter in center defense if he returns from injury in time to face the Foxes.
At right-back, it’s a dream opportunity for Neco Williams to justify the hype surrounding his development, and I imagine Klopp will put his faith in the 19-year-old in the absence of Alexander-Arnold. “
Matt Dawson – N. Williams, R. Williams, Matip, Robertson
“This is the billion dollar question right now, it really is the panic seasons at Anfield. They also have a tough streak, with games against Leicester, Wolves and Ajax over the next month.
The solution, for me, is complicated, but on the right back I would certainly go for Neco Williams, 19 years old. The Welshman looks like the natural heir to Alexander-Arnold in that position and he impressed me a lot against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup last season. It’s who you consider alongside Joel Matip in central defender that is even more difficult.
The Cameroonian international was excellent against Manchester City, winning six of his seven duels on the ground and using his tall body to receive three fouls, and is currently a shoo-in to play.
Whoever chooses Jurgen Klopp as center-back is sure to have a difficult afternoon against Vardy after the international break.
That said, I’d probably go for Rhys Williams. After all, he has kept two clean sheets in two Champions League games. “
Christy Malyan – N. Williams, Fabinho, Matip, R. Williams, Robertson
“Very rarely has Klopp ventured away from a four-man defense during his tenure at Liverpool, but surely now is the perfect time to do so.
While that may seem like an unnecessarily negative overreaction, and one that actually increases the risk of more center-back options getting injured, the extra body at the back should help nullify the impact of losing so many key defenders.
It also puts Robertson and Neco Williams in positions that suit their adventurous playing styles and is exactly how West Ham prepared when they unexpectedly crushed Leicester 3-0.
Vardy was unable to score that day and actually only managed one shot during the ninety minutes, although Klopp will want to play the system much more progressively than the Hammers who sat deep and fought back.
In terms of central defense personnel, having Fabinho and Rhys Williams on either side of Matip makes the most sense to me. Fabinho can get the ball into midfield and Williams looks decent in possession as well with 92% passing accuracy against Atalanta. “
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