8 Apr 2017

Confirmed Teams: Last-gasp injury shocker; 5 players out; surprise start for 'sensational' youngster; Klopp losing his mind?

Liverpool have major injury problems for today's Premier League clash with Stoke City.

FULL TEAM: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Klavan, Matip, Milner, Can, Wijnaldum, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn, Origi

SUBS: Karius, Moreno, Grujic, Sturridge, Firmino, Lucas, Coutinho

* As expected, Mane, Lallana, and Hendo are out, but Coutinho and Firmino are also not fit enough to start the game (!)\

* Alexander-Arnold and Woodburn come into the side to replace the Brazilian duo.

* Lucas is dropped? Why? He has played well in recent games, but he's deemed surplus to requirements when the Reds obviously needs experience in the team. Yet Woodburn and Arnold are included? Way to go, Jurgen! Dropping high performing players is a great motivational tool!

* Sturridge is on the bench once again, but despite the club missing FIVE senior players, he's not deemed ready to start.

* Ditto Marko Grujic. If he's not ready to start today, then when is he going to be ready?! It's ridiculous. Grujic is far more experienced (and older) than both Woodburn and Arnold, yet he's stuck on the bench again. The Serb is turning out to be a total dud of a signing.

* Once again, there's no room in the squad for U23 captain Harry Wilson, yet Woodburn and Arnold are given the nod. If Wilson - who has 50+ goals/assists this season - can't get into a decimated squad when the team *needs* wing cover, then it's clear that Klopp doesn't rate him. Pathetic decision. Wilson needs to quit this summer and go to a team where he's appreciated by the manager.

Not to belabour the point, but Klopp's stubbornness is massively frustrating. Why won't he pick Wilson?! I'm sure the German's rabid acolytes will come up with all kinds of lame 'reasons', but there's simply no excuse. Instead, it looks like he'll play a defender (Arnold) out of position on the wing instead of playing a dedicated, prolific winger. And why? Probably because Arnold runs more. As I said: pathetic.

Probable Formation:

------------ Mignolet
Clyne -- Lovren - Matip --- Klavan
--- Milner -- Can -- Wijnaldum
Arnold ----- Origi --- Woodburn

Or, if Klopp goes with a 352

------------ Mignolet
---- Lovren - Matip -- Klavan
Clyne ------------------ Milner
--- Arnold -- Can -- Wijnaldum
------ Woodburn -- Origi

In my view, Klopp has totally lost the plot, but watch him be hailed as some kind of once-in-a-lifetime genius if Liverpool win the game.


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