Martin Keown has suggested that Andy Lonergan could be key for Liverpool against Southampton on Saturday.
The veteran stopper has been drafted in hastily after it emerged that Adrian may not be fit for the trip to the south coast because of a freak ankle injury picked up when a celebrating fan tackles him after the UEFA Super Cup in midweek.
And if Lonergan does get the nod at St. Mary’s, Keown believes that the Reds’ tendency to play a high line could mean that he is a crucial part of the side’s performance.
Writing in a column for the Daily Mail, he said: “This is where keeper Adrian — or Andy Lonergan — will be needed too.
“Whoever starts will have to stay alert and play high like his defenders, in case he needs to come rushing out to clear danger.
“And Lonergan is 35 by the way.”
OPINION
It’s hard not to be worried about Lonergan’s potential inclusion on Saturday. On the one hand, you wouldn’t expect him to be overly busy against the Saints, and if the Reds can protect him well enough, he could get off with out a hitch. On the other, this is a 35-year-old who has never played in the Premier League, and who scored the lowest Whoscored rating out of any player to feature in five or more games in the Championship in 2017/18. The worry will be that he was a free agent for a reason before being thrown this bizarre lifeline, and all you can really hope is that he doesn’t have to be relied on for too long. Adrian could still make it, but it’s looking very, very touch and go at the moment, and should the Spaniard fail in his bid to be fit, this could be one of the most fascinating and nervy footnotes of the new season.
