OPINION
Amid the uncertainty concerning the availability or lack thereof of Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold against Crystal Palace on Saturday, the prevailing wisdom is that midfielder James Milner will fill in for the England international.
However, manager Jurgen Klopp should consider throwing youngster Rafael Camacho into the fray against the Eagles. The Portuguese started against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month and performed well, and should be given another chance here.
The 18-year-old is one of the most exciting players emerging from the Reds academy at this present time and, being a natural right back, he deserves the nod ahead of Milner.
The veteran is a steady pair of hands, of course, but Camacho impressed against Wolves and would add a more potent attacking threat on the right hand side of the defence.
You need to choose the games in which to blood these youngsters carefully, and it’s time that Camacho received his Premier League debut. Palace can be dangerous opposition, but Camacho has shown that he’s up to the task.
With Fabinho likely to start at centre back, Liverpool could do with avoiding having two midfielders on the right hand side of the defence. Camacho has been successfully transformed into an orthodox right back in recent years and looks ready for further tastes of first team football.
Milner is the safe bet, which has its appeals in a title race, but Camacho is the superior candidate here. He flashed huge potential at Molineux and would give this team an added dimension that Milner isn’t capable of providing at right back.
Klopp will likely be considering this scenario, given his nominal faith in youth, and so he should. Camacho is a fantastic prospect who should be handed a start against Palace.
