7 Apr 2016

Confirmed Liverpool Team: Huge disappointment as Klopp drops 'amazing' £25m attacker; Surprise as Brazilian returns

AS predicted, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has dropped 'amazing' Reds striker Daniel Sturridge for tonight's Europa League clash with Borussia Dortmund.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Milner, Lallana, Coutinho, Origi.

SUBS: Ward, Toure, Smith, Allen, Ibe, Firmino, Sturridge.

DORTMUND: Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Bender, Hummels, Schmelzer, Castro, Weigl, Durm, Mkhitaryan, Reus, Aubameyang

* Origi comes in for Sturridge, which shows that Klopp prioritises power, speed, and stamina over skill, technique, and unpredictable creativity. In other words, it's a very British decision. I've made this point many times, but this decision underlines it: Why else choose Origi over Sturridge, who is the infinitely superior player?

* £25m-rated Sturridge has 3 goals/assists in his last 4 games, yet Klopp has selected player who has ONE goal in his last 14 games. That says it all, really. Will Dortmund fear Origi? No chance, but Sturridge's goalscoring reputation precedes him.

* Dortmund is arguably the biggest game of the season so far, and Klopp has dropped Liverpool's most prolific goalscorer. I doubt Sturridge will be too impressed with that, and it'll probably hasten his Anfield exit.

Sorry, I just hate the idea of limited huff-and-puff players being selected ahead of prodigiously skillful players just because they run and press more. In my view, it's the epitome of anti-football.

Why not just start with Sturridge, then bring on Origi if it's not working out? Doing it the other way round is a negative approach, as it's (arguably) prioritising a more defensive approach.

Would Man City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern etc drop their best striker for the biggest European game of the season, and in his place, play someone who barely scores, just because he runs/presses more? No chance.

Probable Formation:

--------------- Mignolet
Clyne ---- Sakho ---- Lovren ---- Moreno
------ Milner --- Can --- Hendo
--------- Lallana -- Coutinho
---------------- Origi

Now, just watch fans make excuses to justify Sturridge's exclusion; the very same fans have endlessly bemoaned his absence over the last year, and when he's finally fit, they'll argue that the comparatively limited Origi is a better option. You couldn't make it up.

Author: Jaimie K


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