The number of injured players at Liverpool is increasing. Jurgen Klopp said the latter was “hard to swallow” and could have an impact on the strike.
Jurgen Klopp has occasionally used Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield this season and some are calling for him to do so more often.
The match between Liverpool and Arsenal showed exactly why both teams are aiming to win the Premier League title this season. It is believed that both teams could have scored many wins in an exciting match.
But it wasn’t all good news for Liverpool. Klopp said after the 1-1 draw with Arsenal that he was “overshadowed by Kostas Tsimikas’ hamstring problem”. “It was completely broken and I was gone for a long time. We have to consider other issues as well.
“Living with Robbo [Andy Robertson] is difficult for us.”Andy Robertson is set to return to Liverpool in January, but it is not yet clear when exactly that will happen. For example, he will not feature in the first game of 2024 against Newcastle United because it is too early.
Jurgen Klopp revealed ahead of the Arsenal game that Robertson has undergone a physical as he recovers from a shoulder injury but is yet to return to first-team training. So far, he has not received permission to start training with the ball.
The Tsimikas issue therefore means Liverpool now have two left-back options until one returns. Luke Chambers has only played a few minutes since the start of the Europa League, but Joe Gomez is the clear choice for the role at the moment.
Gomez, who was outstanding after Tsimikas’ strike, will now remain on the sidelines after his outstanding performance against West Ham in midweek. Eight years on from his arrival at Anfield, Liverpool’s first goal is getting closer and closer and has been outstanding so far, so it’s not a big worry.
However, if Gomez plays more often, it could have a negative impact on the rest of Liverpool’s squad. With Joel Matip out and Ibrahima Konate unavailable for every match, Jarel Quansah will be needed more often at centre-back.But more importantly, Gomez is the main alternative to right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Anyone hoping to see Liverpool’s No.66 in midfield – and some called for it against Arsenal – may have to wait.Although Alexis McAllister is currently injured and Wataru Endo will play in the New Year’s Asian Games, Liverpool cannot replace Alexander-Arnold until Robertson returns.
Connor Bradley could play there, but he could also be a deeper midfielder than Curtis Jones or Ryan Gravenburch.With no senior defenders fit and able to play, Liverpool will have to manage their squad carefully until one of them returns. Gomez will be the man to fill that role, while Alexander-Arnold will no doubt remain in that role.
