Well, it’s really one step forward and two back for Liverpool this season.
The Reds went into this afternoon’s visit to Nottingham Forest as huge favourites, after beating Manchester City and West Ham United by a 1-0 scoreline over the past six days.
It was only the second time all season Liverpool had secured back-to-back Premier League victories.
However, Jurgen Klopp’s side regressed at the City Ground by losing 1-0 away to Forest, owing to a second-half winner from Taiwo Awoniyi, once on the Anfield outfit’s books.
And the German manager has explained some context behind the defeat, admitting that he had no intention of starting fit-again Curtis Jones in this new formation but that an infection for Thiago Alcantara forced his hand.
He told BBC Sport, broadcast 22/10 at 14:59: “We didn’t train in this formation one second because Jones was not in the plans. He was close and we can see he is now fit which is great, but he didn’t play this position before. Then Thiago gets an infection over night and is out and you have to make a decision.”
You have to feel for Klopp a little.
As erratic as Liverpool have been, they’ve had horrendous luck on the injury front.
If it isn’t a crisis of midfield options it’s now in attack, with Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz both ruled out until after the World Cup in Qatar.
Losing both of them means Klopp’s hand is forced somewhat regarding a formational change and it’s no surprise to see hiccups like this, really.
Hopefully for the Reds they can get Thiago back sooner rather than later because if this unspecified infection results in a lengthy absence, which seems unlikely, then things are only going to get much worse for the Merseysiders.
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