LIVERPOOL’S defensive crisis deepened when Brazilian ace Fabinho joined Virgil van Dijk on the sidelines.
Fabinho faces a month out after limping off with a hamstring injury just 30 minutes into the Champions League win over Midtjylland.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is facing a defesive crisis with Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Fabinho all out injured
Jurgen Klopp has already lost van Dijk for the season while Joel Matip is currently out after picking up a knock in the Merseyside derby.
So what can Klopp do? SunSport explains:
The transfer window is shut – do Liverpool have any options?
Not many, although they could, theoretically, pick up a free agent defender without a current club.
Whether they could find one who is good enough to play in the Premier League and Champions League is another question.
Surely they could loan someone in? After all, this is an emergency?
No. Sorry, but no.
The Prem did have a rule to allow the “emergency loan” signing of goalkeepers until a few years ago but even that clause no longer exists.
The reality is no player coming in before January, when you can expect an early swoop.
Brazilian star Fabinho picked up a hamstring injury in the Champions League win over Midtjylland
That’s not fair. Nobody could have foreseen what has happened. There must be some leeway?
Afraid not, unless there is a free agent out there.
But even then, he would have to have been freed by his previous club BEFORE the transfer window shut.
And even then the Prem board would have to give special dispensation – which many would see as unlikely.
What about in Europe?
No dice either. Uefa’s player registration list is fixed from October 5 until after the group stage.
Although all clubs can change three players for the second half of the season and they are no longer cup-tied if they have played in the same competition for another club.
How Virgil van Dijk compares to the rest of the PL’s defenders
What about in the squad, then?
Klopp was full of praise for youngster Rhys Williams, who came on to partner Joe Gomez for the final hour.
But it is fair to say that Liverpool will face sterner tests than the Danish champions – starting with free-scoring Atalanta next week.
Klopp could move Andy Robertson or Trent Alexander-Arnold inside, as he has enough full-back options.
But short of sticking with Williams and Gomez, there are not too many obvious other partnerships.
He will be desperately keen for Matip to get back for the weekend.
Fabinho injury leaves Liverpool in defensive crisis as Brazilian limps off against Midtjylland with Van Dijk out too
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
