03 Jan 2018 23:03:07
Hello everyone, long time reader. Was going through the squad size for next season and I can't see space for all of Lemar/ Goretzka/ CDM

Firmino, Mané, Salah (Solanke, Lemar, Lallana)

Wijnaldum, Keita, CDM (Oxlade, Henderson, Goretzka)

Unlikely all 3 will come at these conditions. Is it possible that Klopp will play a mid-3 without a real Defensive Mid, but actually with someone in Keïta who is better than Coutinho at tracking back AND someone in Goretzka who can add more than Hendo going forward? 3 B2B

Thanks Eds and Reds.

1.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 08:15:11
I don't think we will be getting goretzka - it will be Keita hendo lallana oxlade lallana and lemar can play their too if he comes.

2.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 09:34:02
Yeah i was thinking this yesterday, our obsession with attacking midfielders under rodgers seems to have shifted to an obsession with box to box midfielders under klopp. Our midfield seriously lacks balance and a lot of questions remain to be answered.

Its accepted that Can, Coutinho and Milner will leave this season. For me chamberlain is milners replacement. Coutinho will hopefully be replaced with a like for like skillful midfielder. But for Can, i don't see the logic in bringing in another box to box midfielder to replace him when keita is comimg in. Is keita to replace Can? To replace Coutinho? For me Cans biggest issue was that he was a jack of all trades but master of none because nobody ever knew what his role was. Sure goretzka is probably better than him but will it not leave us with the same problems? And what does all this mean for henderson who continues to struggle for form and fitness? Has wijnaldum done enough to stay next season? Is lallana going to be phased out? The only player who looks nailed on for our midfield next season is the one who hasn't even arrived yet!

I just can't see goretzka joining us because it will effectively consign us to playing a double pivot of him and keita every game for balance, it would leave a lot of our players out in the cold. For me the absolute best choice is to buy someone who has experience in the premier league, is defensively minded and has far more experience at the top level than Can. That player for me would be steven nzonzi:)

3.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 10:19:33
If the focus is on more balance through a defensive mid i agree. Henderson maybe demoted to vice captain in the next 1/ 2 seasons and asked to be more of a squad player (ageing, injuries, not a natural defensive player) .

Much of the same about Lallana: Gini not at his best this season but Klopp did want him not so long ago, so he's starting; Oxlade could be powerfully/ bullishly putting himself in contention for both mid-3 and front-3. But Lallana more of a squad player, whether in mid-3 or front-3.

4.) 04 Jan 2018
04 Jan 2018 11:08:28
Klopp well not bring in a dedicated defensive midfielder. It's counter to how he sets up his team. He wants a player who can control possession, launch attacks and cover when needed which is exactly what Hendo does.