Klopp opens up on Camacho tackle that went viral after Palace win

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Rafa Camacho has emerged as a genuine option for Liverpool at right-back, reckons Jurgen Klopp.

The teenage Portuguese came on at the death against Crystal Palace on Saturday to make his Premier League debut and kept Wilfried Zaha at bay in the final seconds with a solid blocked tackle.

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(Video) The vital Camacho tackle on Zaha you may have missed in the 96th minute…

Liverpool had just conceded to make it 4-3 so if the Ivorian had got past Camacho, 4-4 was definitely on the cards – which would have been a genuine travesty considering we were 4-2 up at 90+4 minutes…

“I told him immediately after the game that he’d already made the most important challenge of his life,” Klopp said, reported in the Echo.

“I’m not sure he really got it – he looked at me like ‘What is he talking about?’ – but it was really massive.

“He’s good in defensive challenges. He’s an offensive player in his mindset and everything but look at our full-backs and where are they most of the time? You need these offensive skills.

“On the other side there will be moments when you are alone on the pitch against a world class player and they are looking to nutmeg you or whatever.

“It is the learning process Robbo (Andy Robertson) went through. He was a fantastic left-winger but played full-back and now he is a full-back. That’s really cool.

“I was really happy in that moment but I have seen similar situations from him (Camacho) before.”

There were rumours that Camacho would be offloaded to Sporting Lisbon this month, but we’re glad the youngster is still at Anfield to play his part in our title challenge.

He’s naturally offensive, but so is Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, as the manager suggests.

It’s Leicester City next, but we’ve got a ten day break beforehand due to our FA Cup and League Cup exits.

Hopefully this will provide us time to get Trent and Joe Gomez back in contention, as with James Milner suspended following his red-card at the weekend, Liverpool’s options at right-back are looking increasingly slim.

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