Tim Sherwood has told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (24/10/20 at 1:05 pm) that Liverpool duo Joe Gomez and Joel Matip are replaceable at the back.
But he made it clear that someone like Virgil van Dijk isn’t replaceable and Jurgen Klopp doesn’t need to go out and sign another centre-back.
Liverpool recorded a dogged 2-1 win against struggling Sheffield United last night, with Fabinho playing at centre-back alongside Gomez, where the former gave away a penalty during the early stages.
The above duo played at centre-back in the Champions League in midweek also, as it seems this is Jurgen Klopp’s newfound partnership and Sherwood thinks there is one man who needs to be a certain starter at the back.
“To go out and try to replace Virgil van Dijk, you are not going to do it, it’s impossible,” Sherwood told Sky Sports.
“You might go and get another Matip. You might go and get another Joe Gomez. But you don’t need another one. I think Fabinho will go in there and whatever Jurgen Klopp thinks, it’s his best partnership.
“I think it will be Matip or it has to be Gomez, one of the two have to play, in my opinion, with the midfield player, who has more of the brain. He is the organiser. I think he has got good legs. And he’s got decent enough pace – It don’t have to be the best player, it’s the best partnership.”
Following that Van Dijk injury, the first thing Liverpool needed was to get back on the field, secure three points and that all-important clean sheet.
Well, they did that in convincing fashion against Ajax in the Champions League, and whilst they conceded against Sheffield United yesterday, they still put maximum points on the board.
But it’s quite clear that the test for this Liverpool side will be in the long-term and whether they can lift some silverware without their defensive rock at the back.
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