Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is considering dropping Fabinho to the bench against Aston Villa, in order to ensure the Brazilian doesn’t get hit with a suspension that’d keep him out of the Manchester City fixture.
The Reds’ boss is used to having a bit of a dilemma when it comes to selecting his midfield, but the anchor is usually a dead cert for a starting position in our important games.
Fabinho has accumulated four yellow cards so far this season, and a fifth would see him face a one-match suspension which would rule him our of our crucial clash against City.
This means that Klopp has had to consider whether or not to risk him against Aston Villa – a situation I’m sure he’s not happy with.
Klopp on Fabinho being on brink of suspension.
"I don't know yet [if he will give it any consideration]. We will see. Do I say 'no challenges at all?' That's not possible against Aston Villa. The player knows it, I know it. I didn't make a final decision."#LFC
— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) November 1, 2019
The boss does have options, however – he could stick Jordan Henderson is the holding role and play any two of Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain off him.
It’s not ideal, but I’d have to imagine a midfield containing three of those four players should be enough to overcome the newly-promoted Aston Villa.
The only other option would be to draft other players into midfield – such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, but that would weaken us in other areas.
Honestly, I expect Klopp to start a midfield of Hendo, Milner and Gini – it’s probably his safest option.