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The depth of Liverpool’s squad is almost certainly in its best position since the arrival of Jürgen Klopp almost five years ago. The German entered Anfield with a questionable starting lineup and a mess on defense.
Over time, Klopp has transformed the Reds into the best team in the country on defense and possibly also on offense. No Premier League team conceded fewer goals last season and it was the same last season. This is not by accident and is the result of a long process of team building and developing into a title winning machine.
The arrival of Thiago Alcântara has added more competition to an already heavily congested midfield, but has also improved the existing quality available to Klopp. Just 45 minutes under the Spaniard’s belt and fans are already licking their lips at the prospect of more to come.
Arsenal’s visit has given Thiago a chance to make his first league start as a Liverpool player, but a potential lock has been set in motion. The 29-year-old is now a doubt for the game against the Gunners, along with Alisson Becker, which has led sectors of fans to fear the worst.
While Liverpool would certainly benefit from having a Thiago-type player in their starting lineup every week, there’s no reason to panic if he’s unavailable for a game. Case and point, a Premier League title and a Champions League win in the last two seasons.
Arsenal have been the victim of Liverpool’s superiority on many occasions during Klopp’s tenure, notably at Anfield, but recent encounters have been the exact opposite. The Gunners’ back-to-back losses may leave a question mark over the most likely outcome of Monday’s meeting, but there are plenty of options available to Klopp.
Typically, Klopp goes with a 4-3-3 formation that allows Liverpool to attack on all fronts, but also leaves them defensively and structurally sound. This time, however, a different approach could be used to combat Arsenal’s pace and ability. Last week’s win over Lincoln saw Klopp go 4-2-3-1, with the front four players swapping often to cause problems for the defense. A similar tactic could be implemented against gunners.
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Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané are suitable to fill both forward roles, while Roberto Firmino is Liverpool’s trusted forward. But in midfield, Klopp has a seemingly endless list of weapons in his arsenal to choose from.
Fabinho is the defensive midfielder for the Reds, and if Joe Gomez had recovered from the injury, we could see the Brazilian in his more traditional role. Jordan Henderson’s absence means Gini Wijnaldum and James Milner are more likely to take the spot alongside Fabinho, while Marko Grujic could be in with an outside scream.
But what about the number 10 spot? This is where it gets more interesting and unpredictable. Takumi Minamino has proven himself worthy of a place in the first team, as have Naby Keïta and Curtis Jones. Even Xherdan Shaqiri, who many were concerned about before last week, has put his name back on the hat as a possible option. Let’s not forget the new signing Diogo Jota, who adds an extra ingredient to Liverpool’s attack.
Either one is capable of operating in multiple positions in midfield, something Klopp considers a vital quality. Minamino could also be placed in the role of main forward, which could leave Firmino to work as the No. 10 and do his reliable pressure work without the ball and unfold as a playmaker.
Liverpool’s squad is in an enviable position. Top-flight clubs have explored the transfer market to try to close the gulf-sized gap created by Klopp’s team last season. It remains to be seen whether any have actually had, or simply, a false sense of optimism.
Klopp will know that what he has accomplished has not been done overnight, it has been a carefully thought out process and, at times, exhausting. Coaches in the Premier League will have similar sentiments, but will still look to put a glove on Liverpool if the opportunity presents itself.
The options available to Klopp, even without Thiago, are the envy of the entire Premier League. The absence of one or two players does not mean that the whole team falls apart, but that a new system can be used that we are not used to seeing. Trust Klopp and trust the players, they know what they are doing.
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