Liverpool earned an excellent three-goal advantage against Roma on Tuesday night.
Former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler has told BBC Sport’s Live coverage of the Reds’ excellent 5-2 win over AS Roma on Tuesday night that Jurgen Klopp’s side are lacking in midfield depth.
The Merseyside giants earned a superb three-goal advantage to take to Italy next week, courtesy of an attacking masterclass by in-form star Mo Salah – just days after he scooped the PFA Player of the Year award.
Egypt international Salah scored twice and set up Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to score, before Firmino got his second of the night from a James Milner corner.
But the Reds were rocked early on as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was forced off the field with what looked like an ankle injury, and Fowler has urged Klopp to start “wrapping players up in cotton wool” as his midfield options become thin.
“Liverpool are threadbare. Top four is not guaranteed, but they need to start wrapping players up in cotton wool. As much as the top four is important, they need to keep this XI on the pitch,” Fowler said.
“Other than Wijnaldum there are not more midfielders on that Liverpool bench. Emre Can is injured and I am not sure Adam Lallana will return. It is massively important we look after the players.”
The Reds started with captain Jordan Henderson in midfield, alongside workhorse James Milner and England international Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the latter was replaced by Georginio Wijnaldum.
Liverpool face Stoke City in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, with the same midfield trio that finished Tuesday night’s match expected to take to the field with Klopp struggling to produce any other options.
Fowler’s former side remain in third and nine points above fifth-placed Chelsea, but will want to keep the pressure on second-placed Manchester United who sit three points ahead on 74.
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