Liverpool boss had to think quickly against Crystal Palace.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had to think quickly after James Milner was sent off against Crystal Palace.
Milner was deputising at right-back, following an injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool weakened their squad by loaning Nathaniel Clyne to Bournemouth and he cannot be recalled.
For the last few minutes of the dramatic 4-3 win, attacker Roberto Firmino had to deputise at right-back.
Klopp explained to the Liverpool Echo that there was some method to his desperate decision.
He said: “It wasn’t the perfect solution. It was a bit of a surprise of course but we had to react pretty quick and Bobby was a centre-half when he started playing, I remembered that at least, but of course it’s difficult.
“We could have done a few things, bringing in Alberto (Moreno) or Rafa (Camacho) immediately, but we had to defend Zaha with two or three players anyway and Bobby is a very smart player.”
It is not a scenario Klopp will be keen to repeat.
That’s not because Firmino did badly, rather that the Reds lose so much at the attacking end of the pitch by playing him out of position.
Milner will be suspended for Liverpool’s upcoming fixture with Leicester, and the right-back position remains a headache for the Reds.
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