Unfortunately the season is only three games old and already we’ve had a rasp of injuries to key players.
Mamadou Sakho, Joe Gomez, Loris Karius, Sadio Mane, James Milner, Daniel Sturridge and now Coutinho, Divock Origi and Emre Can are set to miss important games through injury. That’s madness.
Most of those names are available for the weekend trip to Spurs, our last fixture before the international break, but the latter three are unlikely to start. 2015/16 was the worst we’ve experienced for injuries in memory, but the way this one has started – even with new fitness coach Andreas Kornmayer overseeing players’ wellbeing – worries us.
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Still, our large squad enables Jurgen Klopp a strong XI for the Tottenham game, and Liverpool are likely to start like this without our three young stars.
We hope that one of Coutinho, Origi or Can will be available, but Klopp has rarely risked a player unless he’s 100% fit, regardless of opposition.
Simon Mignolet is a shoe-in between the sticks, while Nathaniel Clyne and James Milner are the established fullbacks. Alberto Moreno may provide a pacy option from the bench at some point…
We think Joel Matip will keep his spot at the heart of defence over Ragnar Klavan, who was shaky against Burnley. The Cameroonian should start alongside first-choice Dejan Lovren.
In midfield, without Emre Can or Lucas, Jordan Henderson will likely play the deep role again – but will need to be far, far better than he was at Turf Moor – where he provided little protection. Gini Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana should come in either side in Klopp’s now favoured 4-3-3.
On the right, Sadio Mane starts, while the injury to Coutinho means Roberto Firmino should shift to the left – enabling Daniel Sturridge a start up top with Origi injured.
In fact, this side picks itself, really.
