Jurgen Klopp is proving once again this season why he is arguably the best manager in the world. Liverpool sit top of the Premier League and are still in all three cup competitions, with the League Cup final agonisingly close.
This season, he has consistently shown his ability to adapt the team to different in-game situations.
Liverpool’s League Cup win over Fulham was the seventh time the Reds have won a match, despite conceding the first goal, in all competitions this season. That’s the most of any side in England’s top four tiers in 2023-24.
However, Alexander-Arnold and Salah both being out, for at least the next three games, poses a different question for Klopp and co.
Attempts so far
With Dominic Szoboszlai also missing for the League Cup match against Fulham, Liverpool fielded a new right side, featuring Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch and Harvey Elliott.
The former was brilliant, providing width and working tirelessly to make a difference in the final third, as well as defending astutely.
Gravenberch toiled in midfield, producing moments in which his talent shone through, but ultimately didn’t bring the defensive edge that Szoboszlai does – the Dutchman lost 10 of his 12 duels on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Elliott continues to divide supporters, and perhaps the manager, as to where he would best be deployed in the coming weeks.
With Ben Doak injured and Kaide Gordon seemingly not a viable option, for Liverpool to play a left footer in Salah’s position, Elliott would have to take on the mantle.
He played this position against Arsenal, but Klopp was forced to change as the team were under pressure, and Elliott was unable to give Liverpool the out-ball they needed.
Similar happened against Fulham but, at home against lesser opposition, you would have expected him to be more effective – there were still times that Liverpool missed Salah’s speed when running into space.
Here is how Liverpool started against Fulham:
What changed in the games?
The coaching staff came up with slightly different solutions to Liverpool’s first-half woes in their last two games.
Against Arsenal, Elliott moved back into midfield, swapping with Gakpo who started there, before Jota came on for the Dutchman and Luis Diaz went to the right-hand side, where Elliott had began the game.
