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BSP-08
FBL-BOURNEMOUTH-LIVERPOOL
Do Liverpool have squad depth to compete on two fronts?
BOURNEMOUTH, United Kingdom, Dec 7, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Naby Keita has
started to show he can add creativity to Liverpool’s midfield but Jurgen
Klopp may question his squad’s strength in depth despite securing two Premier
League wins in four days.
Klopp is likely to revert to his tried-and-trusted first choices at
Bournemouth on Saturday, having been a little lucky on Wednesday to emerge
with a 3-1 win at Burnley after making seven changes to his line-up.
There were good reasons for so many changes — the match came hot on the
heels of Sunday’s dramatic late derby victory over Everton, at the start of a
frantic month that features home games against Napoli, Manchester United and
Arsenal.
In addition, full-back Andy Robertson and forward Sadio Mane were injured,
and so Klopp would have had to shuffle his players around even if rotation
had not been on his mind.
Yet Liverpool were second-best for the opening hour at Turf Moor against
opponents without a victory since September 30, and only turned the match
around in the final 30 minutes, when Klopp brought on Mohamed Salah and
Roberto Firmino.
It was evidence of just how important Salah, Firmino and Sane are to the
Liverpool cause, even if they have not necessarily been at their best this
season.
During Liverpool’s struggles on Wednesday, though, the performance of Keita
did give Klopp reason to be positive.
The Guinea midfielder’s impact has been restricted by injury problems since
his arrival from RB Leipzig in July but he is starting to look at home in the
English game.
His creativity is likely to be crucial, given that Liverpool have been
short of such a player following the departure of Philippe Coutinho to
Barcelona in January and because of the long-term knee injury suffered by
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in April. – Keita makes his case –
Of the seven players brought into the starting line-up by Klopp at Burnley,
Keita made the strongest case to retain his place at Bournemouth, where there
will have to be at least one change, with defender Joe Gomez sidelined for up
to six weeks after fracturing his leg.
At Turf Moor, Keita showed he was willing to fight for the ball but also
provided forward impetus once he got it, almost scoring with a shot that Joe
Hart saved brilliantly.
“He started the season brilliantly and obviously then getting an injury set
him back a little bit. But you can see how good a player he is,” said captain
Jordan Henderson.
“That shot with the left foot and the save from Hart was fantastic. In his
overall play he is comfortable on the ball and he helps build up play from
the back. He drives the ball forward, which is big for us. I thought he was
outstanding.”
As a whole, though, Liverpool lack the strength in depth of Manchester
City, the team they will have to surpass in order to become champions of
England for the first time since 1990.
City had a rather more comfortable night at Watford on Tuesday, despite
only winning 2-1, as Pep Guardiola rotated his squad.
It raises the question as to whether Liverpool can afford to go full out
for both the Champions League and Premier League. Fail to get the right
result against Napoli in their final European group-stage game next Tuesday,
and the decision will be made for them.
Henderson, though, is remaining positive.
“The games are coming thick and fast, a lot of games in a short space of
time but we showed we can use the squad and still perform to the level we
know we are capable of and win games — and that’s a big plus for us,” he
said.
BSS/AFP/MRI/0850 hrs