There has been plenty of talk about how Liverpool will approach the remainder of the Premier League season now their status as champions has been confirmed.
Tonight’s match against Manchester City shouldn’t offer too many clues, in truth.
Jurgen Klopp will likely go with his strongest side in pursuit of a victory which would further cement Liverpool’s dominance in a season which has been their’s from start to finish.
After that, perhaps the German will keep his foot on the gas, pursuing the Premier League points record and allowing Mo Salah to chase his third consecutive golden boot.
Alternatively, given that Klopp didn’t spend big last summer and has already been cautious about transfer activity in the forthcoming window, he could use the time to give top flight gametime to some of Liverpool’s highly rated youngsters.
Among them is teenage defender Ki-Jana Hoever, who was described by Klopp as ‘sensational’ to Liverpool’s official website in August 2019.
With Joel Matip ruled out for the remainder of the season with a foot injury and Dejan Lovren looking far from convincing against Everton, Hoever should get an opportunity to impress between now and the end of the season.
That’s not to say he will instantly catapult above Matip and Lovren in the pecking order this or even next season, but he is worthy of a chance to impress.
Adam Lallana will depart Anfield this summer and it looks as if Curtis Jones is being lined up to take his spot in the side as a backup player.
It would certainly be exciting for Liverpool fans if Hoever took over from Lovren in a similar way within the next year, and giving him gametime this term should come into Klopp’s thinking when evaluating if he is up to the task.
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