Mark Lawrenson told Off the Ball that he wants Jurgen Klopp to play Nat Phillips for Liverpool’s showdown with Leicester City on Saturday.
The former Anfield favourite thinks Liverpool need to ‘take out’ the experienced duo of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson and play them in the middle of the park.
A lack of balance is seriously beginning to affect Liverpool and Klopp needs to bring in a natural centre-back to play at the weekend.
Lawrenson suggested Phillips because he feels he did ‘nothing wrong’ when he was previously handed an opportunity.
“I would play one of the young kids now like Phillips, who came in and did absoutley nothing wrong,” said Lawrenson. “The manager probably thought the game was a little too big for him at the weekend.
“Just give somebody like him a run. The new boy they signed from Schalke, Kabak as well. And what’s the worst thing that can happen? They aren’t winning games.
“Take Fabinho out and put him in midfield. Take Henderson out and put him in midfield. And just start winning football matches again.”
If Liverpool continue to leave their centre-backs on the bench, whether it’s the new boys or the academy players, then the problems will only continue.
Liverpool’s engine room has been an underrated figure during their years of success under Klopp and that needs restoring once again.
At the very least, Henderson needs to play in midfield, because whilst the champions have had their problems, Fabinho has performed very well this season as a centre-back.
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