Ki-Jana Hoever made his competitive debut for Liverpool against Wolverhampton Wanderers and could feature against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Mark Lawrenson has written on BBC Sport that that Liverpool have a problem in defence.
The Liverpool legend has also suggested that Ki-Jana Hoever cannot be the solution to the Reds’ issue at the back against Brighton and Hove Albion this weekend.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will take on Brighton away from home in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.
Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip are injured at the moment, while 16-year-old defender Hoever made his first-team debut for Liverpool in their 2-1 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home in the FA Cup on Monday evening.
Lawrenson wrote on BBC Sport: “Liverpool have got a problem in central defence with Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip injured, and I suspect Fabinho will play there – I can’t see what else Reds boss Jurgen Klopp would do.
“Ki-Jana Hoever did great when he came on for Lovren against Wolves, but you would not want to chuck a 16-year-old in at Brighton because he would have Glenn Murray to contend with.
“I know the Seagulls are not the most attacking team, and Liverpool turned them over easily at Amex Stadium last season, but Murray against a kid? No, he would have too much experience for him.”
Big test
Hoever did well on his debut for Liverpool against Wolves, and the teenager could well start against Brighton this weekend.
True, it is going to be hard for the youngster against the Seagulls, but the 16-year-old can only learn by playing competitive football on a regular basis.
If Liverpool manager Klopp thinks that Hoever is good enough to play against Brighton, then fans of the Merseyside outfit should be confident.
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