In today’s earlier televised kick-off, Liverpool will host West Ham in a huge game that fans all over the world will be tuning in to watch. The Reds will be keen to get off to a winning start but that might be harder than you’d think, given their lack of availability at centre back. Jurgen Klopp gave an injury update on the Liverpool website yesterday and the fans aren’t happy.
#LIVWHU team news…https://t.co/kRq2qOu8jT
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 11, 2018
The news is awful in all honesty. The Reds could be left short at the back with Ragnar Klavan, Joel Matip and Joe Gomez all supposedly missing out through injury and Dejan Lovren not having enough time after making the World Cup final with Croatia. The Liverpool fans will definitely have their big commanding centre-back Virgil van Dijk, though, and with him at the back things are usually okay.
West Ham will be smelling blood at the back with Liverpool though. Alisson Becker is likely to be thrown his debut by Klopp meaning that at least whatever defence does go out will have a solid shot-stopper behind them. However, with West Ham looking like a different outfit now Manuel Pellegrini has come in and put his spin on the squad, bringing in new additions all over the pitch and making The Hammers look dangerous.
You can read the Kopites’ verdict on their defence here:
Unreal. Season hasn’t even started and half the squad are injured
— John drennan (@Johndrennan6780) 11 August 2018
We have 1 first team centre bsck fully fit then
— saucysalah (@saucy_salah11) 11 August 2018
That’s Gini at CB then like at Brighton last season
— TJ (@TomLawrence3) 11 August 2018
Why would Moreno be starting potentially if Robbo is available
— Red (@joetgw) August 11, 2018
Surely if most of other centre backs have niggles it.would make sense to play Lovren
— sandy mcmeechan (@SandyMcmeechan) August 11, 2018
Here we go again …… big squad, but fitness & availability issues
— Randall (@randysred) 11 August 2018
https://twitter.com/AL08___/status/1028254732371066880
The Reds are already worried about their clash with The Hammers but if they can overcome their issues and get a win then it won’t matter.
