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Liverpool put in considered one of their finest performances of the season to advance to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, Jurgen Klopp reverting to his previous system vs. West Ham.
Liverpool 5-1 West Ham
Carabao Cup Quarter-Closing, Anfield
December 20, 2023
Targets: Szoboszlai 28′, Jones 56′ 85′, Gakpo 71′, Salah 82′; Bowen 77′
Gomez affords Trent choice
In latest video games, Jurgen Klopp has been switching Trent Alexander-Arnold to midfield correct when Liverpool are determined to get one thing from a sport.
This has concerned the introduction of Joe Gomez at right-back in these video games, to fill the house within the again 4.
Gomez’s performances off the bench have been good, and he was stable sufficient in opposition to West Ham on this cup sport, performing some good defending in opposition to Mentioned Benrahma.
All of this makes a robust case for Klopp to go begin Gomez at right-back and use Trent in midfield from the beginning.
Why wait till you’re chasing the sport to make such a optimistic swap when you can begin video games like that?
Diamond again
The best way Liverpool lined up out of possession on this sport, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott had been each urgent excessive and broad, not dissimilar to the Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah double-act of previous.
Cody Gakpo dropped to the tip of a diamond midfield in defence, with Dominik Szoboszlai proper, Curtis Jones left, and Wataru Endo holding.
Gakpo wasn’t too concerned within the buildup play, not as a lot as Roberto Firmino might need been, however the concept appeared just like that previous diamond formation that may be fashioned because the Brazilian dropped deep.
The Dutchman was extra concerned within the second half and finally acquired his purpose, and this return to one thing just like the previous system, even when not similar, labored properly.
It’s good to have choices to freshen issues up, and Liverpool actually do.
Want for trophies
There have been no youth gamers within the Liverpool lineup that began this sport in opposition to West Ham.
Caoimhin Kelleher is now very a lot a senior backup keeper, and although Elliott is barely 20, he very a lot a part of the primary staff.
There have been kids on the bench, however the beginning lineup was robust and senior.
It’s maybe no shock given what assistant Pep Lijnders had mentioned throughout the week about this competitors and the staff’s renewed want to succeed in finals.
“If you wish to construct a staff who actually can compete, it is advisable to play in finals,” Lijnders said.
“That’s why this Carabao Cup is so necessary — as a result of you’ll be able to already be taking part in a semi-final in January.
“A very powerful factor is, the boys – our gamers, Virgil, Dominik, Trent, Robbo, Mo – these guys have the ambition to win, they need extra trophies.”
Of those gamers, Virgil van Dijk and Szoboszlai began the sport, with Alexander-Arnold and Salah on the bench.
There was rotation, as is perhaps anticipated for any midweek sport, however this was a severe aspect.
And even when 2-0 up, Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Ibrahima Konate got here off the bench on the hour mark, moderately than any of the younger group.
Quansah exhibits no new centre-back is required
It was one other efficiency for Jarell Quansah that exhibits Liverpool don’t must signal one other centre-back.
Even with Joel Matip out injured for the foreseeable future, the membership nonetheless has 4 central defenders every of whom would doubtless be starters in most different Premier League lineups.
Quansah has been key to this, as his rise to being comfy within the first staff has been considerably surprising.
Even to those that recognised his high quality at youth stage, stepping as much as the primary staff within the Premier League, Europe and within the home cups will not be a straightforward activity.
Particularly not as a defender, and particularly not in Liverpool’s system.
However Quansah has stepped up, and you would even say he’s now combating for a beginning spot alongside Van Dijk. That’s no simple activity given how good Konate is, however he’s asking the query of Klopp.
On the very least he affords a greater than stable choice within the place, and with Gomez additionally in a position to play there, Liverpool’s recruitment can focus their eyes on different positions.
High quality in a number of roles
Adaptability generally is a key asset for a staff competing on a number of fronts.
Not a determined shoehorning of gamers into a number of roles, however gamers having the ability to play a couple of place in a system to a excessive stage of familiarity.
With Salah exiting for the Africa Cup of Nations subsequent month, Elliott’s skill to play on the proper wing in addition to in midfield shall be helpful.
Gomez crammed in at left-back afterward on this sport in opposition to West Ham and may play all throughout the again 4, whereas Alexander-Arnold’s usefulness has been broadly coated.
Gakpo has performed as an attacking No. 8 in addition to a centre-forward, and Quansah has now coated properly on both aspect of central defence.
Then there’s Curtis Jones, the very best of all of them, who might most likely play wherever and ran West Ham off the park to assist Liverpool attain the semi-finals.
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