Danny Murphy has highlighted Liverpool’s midfield as a key area in their Champions League clash with FC Porto.
The ex-Reds man believes that his former side should be comfortable enough against the Portuguese giants, but has highlighted Jurgen Klopp’s engine room as a potentially vital battleground.
Murphy shared that Klopp has plenty of midfielders to choose from to keep his midfield fresh, and admitted that he had to be honest when suggesting that drawing Porto had been great for the Reds.
Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, he said:
“Considering it was only 14 months ago that Liverpool went to Porto and won 5-0, you have to be honest and say this is a great draw for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“Porto can be dangerous but if Liverpool are on their game, the visitors shouldn’t be able to live with the intensity.
“Liverpool’s home results in the Champions League group stages were much better than their away form, though they put that right against Bayern Munich in the last knockout round.
“I don’t think Liverpool have anything to fear, provided they have the right attitude.
“Klopp also has a variety of options in midfield which means players can be rotated to rest legs without losing the team impetus.
“Jordan Henderson, Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner, Fabinho, Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri and Naby Keita signifies strength in depth in that area, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to return.”
OPINION
With the event of talent that Liverpool have at both ends of the pitch, it’s not unusual for pundits to overlook the centre of the park a little, but Murphy could be on to something here. The Reds face a crucial juncture in their season, and the last thing Klopp needs is tired legs in the big games. There is an argument to be made that he doesn’t know his strongest midfield trio, but that in itself might not be the worst thing in the world at the moment. It allows for health competition, and for players to be dropped and brought in without it seeming like a reflection on their ability. If Liverpool are to follow through on this title challenge then they will need every member of their squad to be at the top of their game, and increasingly you feel as if the midfielder could indeed be a key battleground.
