Liverpool AFCON absent far from Klopp’s only concern over identified “problem”

Liverpool’s 2-2 draw against Chelsea on Sunday helped identify a big problem for Jurgen Klopp as Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah went to the African Cup of Nations.

The African Cup of Nations prevailed in the debate around Liverpool recently.

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita are leaving for the tournament in Cameroon and are likely to miss five to eight Liverpool games next month.

This is an obvious problem. Salah is Liverpool’s top scorer and mascot. Mane is his partner in crime on the opposite side. Not surprisingly, they both scored in the last game before leaving against Chelsea Sunday.

Keita is at his best to be a dynamic midfielder from box to box – a category of players that the Reds lack.

All three of the big ones will miss Jurgen Klopp, who will have to rely on Diogo Jot and – when he returns from the isolation of Covid – on Robert Firmin to step in front of goal.

Liverpool are unlikely to strengthen their ranks in the January transfer window to cover their absences.

Until the beginning of February, when they can expect the return of the missing trio, they will have to rely on the players they are already beating.

Oddly enough, however, their weakened attack may not just be the biggest blow for Klopp at the moment, as goals are generally plentiful.

The German will spend months thinking about how to adjust during AFCON, but sitting at home and watching a chilly, chaotic and dramatic 2-2 draw at Chelsea, another problem has arisen.

Klopp selected an experienced trio of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho to play midfield at Stamford Bridge.

At least in theory, they had a numerical advantage against Mate Kovacic and N’Gol Kante in Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 setup. However, as the match progressed, it became apparent that the Chelsea duo was the one to break through opponents.

With the ball, Liverpool were superficial and wasteful, rushing into mistakes and trying to settle down in their usual rhythm.

Have your say! How will Liverpool go without Sadie Mane and Mohamed Salah? Comment below.

Outside the ball, the problems continued, Kovačič and Kante dictated the game, looked for gaps and pulled the players out of position.

He scored Chelsea’s first goal with a strange and awkward, but equally stunning volley by Kovačič. The second showed the dominance of the blues in the middle.

Salah beat Rudiger to the ball, Kante pulled Ibrahim Konate out of position, Christian Pulisic escaped Henderson to the end, and Virgil van Dijk was nowhere to be seen on the cover.

It was this pattern of play that prompted Jamie Carragher to hit the nail on the head in his analysis of Klopp’s usual high defensive line.

“This season, sometimes it seems like Liverpool are really on the edge, that’s too much,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“Now, is it because the midfield isn’t putting enough pressure on the ball this season because I think midfield this season has been a problem for Liverpool.

“The line is still the same, but they don’t get that kind of pressure in the middle on the ball. But if you don’t get that pressure, you need to cut back sometimes.

It’s not about ‘we can’t play high’, but there are certain situations where Liverpool’s last four have to go back five meters. That happened [in the 3-2 defeat] at West Ham and cost them games there. ”

Liverpool will be short of key personnel next month. They have a larger number in the midfield, but their problem is undoubtedly more pressing. It is fundamental, not individual.

Henderson and Milner have been outstanding for Liverpool for some time. But after a busy and difficult holiday period, they lost pace at Stamford Bridge.

The problem was identified by Pep Lijnders, who brought in Keito, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Curtis Jones.

Liverpool did not receive further goals, but the feeling of their vulnerability could not be shaken.

Luckily they have a Red Break from Premier League next, and attention will focus on the match in the semifinals of the Carabao Cup Arsenal in FA Cup equalization against Shrewsbury.

Klopp will have to use these games to find the best combination to solve Liverpool’s bad midfield.

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