Jamie Carragher wants Naby Keita to be dropped for Liverpool’s clash against Chelsea on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp faces a conundrum over his midfield trio against Maurizio Sarri’s side, with the likes of Fabinho, Naby Keita, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri all competing for a starting spot.
Carragher has had his say: “I would take Keita out against Chelsea and put Henderson in,” he told Sky Sports. “Fabinho has that holding position but where I would play Henderson is further forward. That’s maybe the position we associated him with for England and when he first came to Liverpool.
“That midfield is still not that creative, but against Chelsea the way to win that game is, as Klopp would say, to press, to get after them and to get close to Jorginho. That’s what Jordan Henderson can give you.”
OPINION
You assume that Carragher is saying that it should be a midfield three of Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Henderson against Chelsea on Sunday. He doesn’t mention the Dutchman, but he’s saying that he would take Keita out for Henderson, which would leave Fabinho and Wijnaldum from the Southampton game. That probably is the best trio to face the Blues, despite how well Keita played against the Saints last time out. The Reds will need to be energetic in central midfield and the aforementioned trio will be able to provide that. They’ll get in and around Jorginho and disrupt the Italian’s rhythm, which will in turn stop Chelsea from performing at their best. Henderson is the best player to start on Sunday, because he can provide quality both defensively and offensively. If he can get forward in the way that he did against Southampton then that will be big for the Reds. Carragher is right, these are the three who should start on Sunday.
