Jordan Henderson is seemingly under consideration as an option at centre-back as Liverpool prepare to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Jurgen Klopp has a selection dilemma on his hands ahead of his side’s Round of 16 first leg, with the Reds currently planning for the game with just one recognised central defender in Joel Matip.
Last season’s runners-up in the competition will be without the suspended Virgil van Dijk as well as long-term injury absentee Joe Gomez.
Dejan Lovren is meanwhile a major doubt for the clash having failed to make the trip to Marbella for the club’s warm weather training camp due to a hamstring issue. The Croatian has not played since being substituted in the sixth minute of the FA Cup defeat to Wolves on January 7 and is unlikely to be passed fit.
Having evidently been an option in defence for the game at Molinuex, Henderson is now in the contention as an emergency alternative along with Fabinho.
Discussing Liverpool’s options in his live Q&A, the Echo’s James Pearce said: “I think it’s a toss up between Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to partner Matip. Henderson was due to start the FA Cup tie against Wolves at centre-back before he picked up a knock. Fabinho proved against Wolves and Brighton that he can do a job there but it’s far from ideal.”
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The down side to Fabinho playing in defence is having to remove him from a holding midfield role he has made his own alongside Georginio Wijnaldum in recent months.
He did, however, look incredibly comfortable when carrying out the responsibility alongside the calming presence of Van Dijk in last month’s 1-0 win over Brighton. In terms of Henderson, it will be an entirely new position to get his head around against one of Europe’s top teams.
Liverpool’s shortage of options marks the latest reminder of the need to prioritise the signing of a centre-back during the summer transfer window.