Liverpool will travel to Wolves on Saturday lunchtime without key defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury suffered two weeks ago against Aston Villa.
However, with Ibrahima Konate’s return to the lineup, Joe Gomez will be required to fill in at right back.
Because Alexander-Arnold has been playing in a hybrid role for the last six months, jumping in as a midfield playmaker while in charge, Liverpool will have to play in a somewhat different style.
“Even with Trent, we have to be adaptable.” If you pay great attention to the game against Villa, you will note that he was not fixed in any midfield function; inside role, we need to be flexible there, and that’s exactly how we will do it,” Klopp said.
“However, if you happen to know another passer, like Trent, who can play this position, that would be fantastic.”
“It must be okay; it will be okay.” We must adapt to the players’ different skill sets, but defensive stability remains the most important component in this game.
“If you’re not stable, you don’t have to think about that, and I think that’s why a lot of people weren’t convinced by our last line against Aston Villa (Liverpool’s first clean sheet of the season).”
“Then you saw Joe Gomez and Joel Matip perform at that level, which was crucial to the game, and Alexis (Mac Allister) in front of them did really well.”
“We need defensive stability first, and then we can play football.”