Clyne is currently the first name on Liverpool’s team sheet at the back
Defence – Nathaniel Clyne, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho, Alberto Moreno
Clyne is an easy pick at right-back, especially given Liverpool’s lack of options in the position, with Clyne’s only rival, Jon Flanagan, currently injured.
On the left, Alberto Moreno has forced himself ahead of Joe Gomez in the last month (who knows what will become of Jose Enrique under Klopp), helped by Rodgers switching formation to a back three and playing Moreno at left-wing back. Even though I believe Klopp is likely to revert back to a four-man defence, Moreno is just the type of player Klopp likes as a full-back.
Marcel Schmelzer was a similar player to Moreno at Dortmund – always wanting to get forward in support and being attack-minded ahead of his defensive duties – but if Klopp can improve Moreno defensively as he did with Schmelzer then the young Spaniard could become a top-class left-back.
For the heart of the defence, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho remain Liverpool’s best central defenders.
Gomez and Kolo Toure will likely be the young and experienced back-ups, but Dejan Lovren may be revived under Klopp. Lovren was excellent at Southampton under a higher defensive line and was a top-class defender with Lyon too.
Klopp could push the defence higher up, which would put Skrtel’s position at risk, given that he is over 30 and his pace is diminishing, shown by his back-tracking against opposition attackers as the Slovakian is fearful of being swept aside.
However, so far in his Liverpool career Lovren has been consistently hapless, lacking all confidence when pulling on the Liverpool shirt.
If Klopp can bring the true Lovren back, then Liverpool will not need to go out and recruit another centre-back in January, but I would not be surprised if Lovren departs the club inside the next 12 months.
