If you believe that you make your own luck, you’d think that Liverpool’s performances this season have justified the multiple misfortunes they have suffered. Jurgen Klopp must be wondering when the Reds’ injury issues will turn for the better.
Having recently lost Arthur Melo for the next few months – with the Brazilian having played just 13 minutes since joining on loan – the 3-2 defeat at Arsenal appears to have cost Liverpool two rather more important players. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz both had to be substituted due to injury and face spells on the sidelines.
Despite only playing 12 matches so far this season, the Reds have now had 18 different players who have fallen foul of fitness issues. In terms of finding a deputy for Alexander-Arnold, Klopp will likely opt for Joe Gomez or Calvin Ramsay, though the latter is unlikely to be thrown in at the deep end for his first start for the club in the Champions League or against Manchester City.
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With the Liverpool manager having gone on record regarding his dislike of using a back three, it’s safe to assume that someone will be playing at right-back. The situation with Diaz is far less clear.
Having recently tweaked his side’s formation, will Klopp now have to return to the tried-and-tested 4-3-3? Either way, he’ll need a left-sided player of some kind. Should he move a forward there? Or try something more unconventional? There is much for the coaching staff at the club to ponder, so here are some suggestions.
Diogo Jota
At any time in the previous six seasons, Sadio Mane would be the obvious choice for the left of Liverpool’s attack. However, the Senegalese forward played centrally in the second half of 2021/22, with Diogo Jota often taking his former spot.
He has the most experience of the available options. Per Transfermarkt, Jota has made 144 appearances across his career on the left wing and has amassed a healthy total of 43 goals and 24 assists from there too. The 25-year-old has to be the most likely caretaker for Diaz’ berth in the XI.
Darwin Nunez
On a pro-rata basis, Darwin Nunez is even better than Jota when starting on the left. However, there are two very clear issues.
Firstly, he has a tiny sample of just 571 minutes played there ( per Transfermarkt ). That does make his record of 11 goals and two assists more remarkable though. Nunez scored in all five Primeira Liga appearances he made on the left of the Benfica attack last season, bagging hat-tricks against both Belenenses SAD and Famalicao.
But the problem with moving him there is that it hampers the process of integrating him as the focal point of the team. Having signed a conventional centre forward for the first time in seven years, it makes sense for Liverpool to play him in the position as frequently as they can.
Roberto Firmino
If we look further back, we find Roberto Firmino has represented the Reds on the left, though not for three years. Most of his experience there occurred in 2016/17, when Klopp was figuring out how to get the best out of the Brazilian, Mane and Daniel Sturridge.
Firmino hasn’t proved too productive in that position. His tally of six goals from 21 appearances there matches his scoring contribution from his previous eight run-outs (only four of which were starts) this season. Moving the Reds' most in-form forward would be a huge risk when the team is struggling.
Other previously used options
In recent years, Takumi Minamino, Divock Origi and Xherdan Shaqiri all got starts on the left side of Liverpool’s front three but have obviously since left the club. Without them, there have been very few players who have played the position for the Reds.
Fabio Carvalho played the first half of the recent draw with Brighton, before Diaz replaced him at the break. Liverpool’s flaws that day can’t be laid at the youngster’s door, though the fact remains he didn’t create a chance or take a shot.
The only other possibility (and this remains fitness permitting) is Curtis Jones. He played on the left for the FA Cup win over Shrewsbury last season, and the League Cup victory at MK Dons in 2019/20. Jones also has experience in the position from his time with the under-23s, scoring four goals and assisting two in eight appearances, but it would be an enormous step up.
The wildcards
Describing Mohamed Salah as a wildcard perhaps seems unfair, but any experience he accrued playing on the left occurred before he joined Liverpool. At a time when his form is not too strong, asking the number 11 to switch sides for the first time in almost seven years is unlikely to help.
Otherwise, Klopp is perhaps looking at Harvey Eliott, who picked up two assists and a goal in five Championship appearances on the left for Blackburn in 2020/21. In some ways, the Liverpool manager has a wealth of possibilities to cover for Diaz. In reality, Jota looks the only man for the job.
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