OPINION
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp would be wise to make three changes from the team that lost to Napoli on Tuesday night for Sunday’s clash with Chelsea.
The Reds came up short at the Stadio San Paolo for the second season in a row, and the Reds boss may want to drop the axe on a trio of stars after that game.
Joel Matip, Jordan Henderson and James Milner should all miss out at Stamford Bridge, with Joe Gomez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Georginio Wijnaldum the best bets to replace them.
Those three changes would likely be more than enough for Liverpool to smash this youthful Blues side, leaning on their experience to get the job done.
Adrian deserves to continue in goal after another decent performance on Tuesday. He had no chance with either Napoli strike, but he did make a world class save earlier in the game. He must keep his place, here.
Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson are arguably the best at their positions in world football, but they are also kept in the team due to a lack of other options. With that said, both men should start at full back on Sunday.
While Virgil van Dijk will almost certainly start despite his mistake for Fernando Llorente’s goal at the San Paolo, Matip should drop out. Clearly there are issues with the Reds defence, and perhaps a return to last season’s stunning Gomez-Van Dijk partnership is just what the doctor ordered.
Fabinho has made the holding midfield position his own over the past year, and that’s why he’s the only midfielder who should survive Tuesday’s defeat. The mobility and attacking threat of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum should see them replace Henderson and Milner.
Don’t worry, though, there likely won’t be any changes up front. Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane must all keep their places against Frank Lampard’s side.
