Liverpool journalist Matt Addison has been talking about the current defensive options the Merseyside club have ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash against Everton at the weekend.
This comes after Addison recently made an appearance on the Liverpool Echo’s Blood Red Podcast where he discussed a range of subjects surrounding the Reds.
On the topic of Liverpool’s defensive options in the centre-back position now that Joel Matip has returned to training, Addison had this to say on the matter.
He said: “It’s a big question to answer, I think, at the back with Joel Matip, obviously we know [about] the issues that Liverpool have had defensively over the first couple of games of this season.
“To be honest, I’d probably ease towards playing Fabinho in there, I don’t think it will be Joe Gomez but I think potentially Fabinho could play at centre-back alongside [Virgil] van Dijk and possibly Joel Matip might just miss out, but I suppose it depends really on how fit he is.
“If he’s 100% ready, then maybe you take that risk, but I think possibly with his past injury record – he doesn’t have the best record, as I said before – so it’ll be interesting to see if he does go back in, but my guess is that Jurgen Klopp would be as careful as possible with him, especially with a few big matches to come over the next few weeks.
“It’ll be interesting to see what happens, but I suppose Liverpool only having three senior centre-backs at the club, it’s a huge boost to get him back.”
According to the Liverpool Echo, Matip suffered a muscle injury last month that has kept him out of action since.
Liverpool’s previous Premier League game saw them lose 7-2 to Aston Villa, meaning they have now conceded 11 goals in their first four league matches this season.
Would you start Joel Matip against Everton?
Yes
No
TIF Thoughts…
With the options Liverpool currently have for players that can play in the centre-back position, this will certainly give Klopp a big decision to make on who will start the game against Everton at the weekend.
In our view, it may not be the best decision to start Matip against Everton when he has only just returned to training after his latest injury.
Whoever Klopp decides to play in defence for Liverpool, everyone at the club will undoubtedly not want to be on the receiving end of another result like they were against Villa.