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Liverpool’s injury myth exposed
It was a subplot that wasn’t picked up long before the match, but Liverpool entered this game with up to six first-team players absent due to injury.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, captain Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip made up 50 percent of that half a dozen and all three would have had a significant role to play here at Wembley.
One of the fallacies of last season was that Liverpool achieved the title by having all the luck on their side when it came to injury setbacks.
Fabinho, Alisson Becker and Naby Keita, players whose combined value amounts to more than £ 150 million, were absent for more than 10 games each, while Dejan Lovren and Xherdan Shaqiri had major layoffs.
Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah also missed games en route to the title, while Jordan Henderson was left out of the last four with a season-ending knee problem.
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The idea that Liverpool avoided injury was a mythical narrative trafficked by its detractors.
This time, in the first game of the Reds’ campaign, Jurgen Klopp was forced to plug several holes with square pegs.
Joe Gomez and Fabinho ended the game outside of their natural habitat as Klopp rolled the dice to try to get his team back in.
And while it was always unlikely that players like Shaqiri and Divock Origi would start this one had they been fit, their respective absences left Klopp paralyzed to some degree as Liverpool chased the game.
Klopp traditionally prefers to have his numbers cut, but ultimately he is missing six first-team players.
Liverpool will have a more familiar look for his style when he returns.
Fabinho’s experiment must end
A penny for Fabinho’s thoughts on the time stamp at Wembley?
After two seasons at Anfield, the Brazilian has solidified his reputation as one of the best midfielders in European football today.
Undoubtedly one of the best in the Premier League, Liverpool looks like a more fluid operation when in the right role, facing challenges and using the ball wisely.
So being asked to play emergency central defender is probably not on the player’s wish list. Nor should it be.
Do you think Jurgen Klopp needs to sign a central defender this summer? Let us know in the comments section …
Fabinho has played there before for the Reds, most notably in a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich at Anfield last year, but seeing him deviate from his preferred role will be enough to make fans shudder for weeks to come. and months.
With Joel Matip injured and Dejan Lovren in Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg, Fabinho was pushed into position alongside Virgil van Dijk due to the lack of superior center-backs in the team at this time.
Needs must, no doubt, but it is a situation that should not be allowed to happen too often in this upcoming campaign.
Listen to Blood Red’s post-game podcast HERE
If Klopp is unwilling to put his faith in the inexperienced youngsters in his defensive ranks, then a fourth-choice central midfielder must be sought in the transfer market before the new season begins.
Positive signs for Minamino
Perhaps the great positive of Liverpool’s day at Wembley was the performance of Takumi Minamino.
See how Ian Doyle qualified Takumi Minamino and the rest of Liverpool against Arsenal in the Community Shield HERE
The Japan international has not had the easiest period of adaptation at Anfield.
Joining a relentless Reds setup mid-season made it difficult for him to reach the same levels of intensity as a team that had the bite firmly between its teeth in pursuit of the 19th league title.
The agile attacker was forced to settle for cameos and appearances in cup competitions as he tried to defend his own rights.
Suspending the Premier League for more than three months also slowed their progress.
From the bench, about an hour here, the former Red Bull Salzburg forward was lively and inventive.
Taking his goal well, his clever finish when the one-on-one with Emi Martinez hinted at an additional goal threat for Liverpool next season.
“One goal was the only thing missing so far and today it was finally there,” Klopp said of Minamino’s contribution.
With the same preseason schedule under their belt as their teammates, Liverpool can perhaps hope to have another chord in their bow regarding Minamino in the future.
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