NaijNaira
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will have some big calls to make regarding his future team selections after Saturday’s humbling loss at the hands of Nottingham Forest.
The Reds were downed by one of their former players in Taiwo Awoniyi, who struck in the second half to claim all three points for Forest and condemn their Merseyside opponents to yet another lacklustre defeat in the Premier League.
Their disappointing form could force Klopp into making a number of changes for their next game against Ajax in midweek in an attempt to get Liverpool back on track by gaining some much-needed winning momentum.
Joe Gomez
Joe Gomez could be among the players at risk of being dropped for Liverpool’s next match after putting in a sub-par performance at the City Ground on Saturday.
He managed to pocket Erling Haaland during last weekend’s victory over Manchester City but was unable to replicate his previous showing against Forest, who capitalised on his defensive blunder to take the lead just before the hour mark.
A mistake from Gomez gave Forest a free-kick in a dangerous position, with Awoniyi eventually poking the ball home after being found in space inside the area.
The Liverpool defender’s role in bringing about the goal may have damaged his confidence ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League group stage match against Ajax, with a short break from the firing line able to give him the opportunity to recharge before Liverpool take on Leeds United next weekend.
Curtis Jones
Klopp could also benefit from dropping Curtis Jones, who was largely ineffectual against Forest despite completing the entire 90 minutes for the first time this season.
The Reds academy product has no shortage of natural ability but often struggles to put his talents to good use, with his muted form raising questions over whether he offers enough to keep playing for Liverpool on a consistent basis.
Jones missed a large chunk of the early part of the season with an injury but has failed to justify his place in the Liverpool side upon his return, although it remains to be seen whether he will be replaced by Jordan Henderson for the trip to Ajax in midweek.
Fabio Carvalho
A case can also be made to drop Fabio Carvalho at the next time of asking, with the ex-Fulham youngster having been unable to shine on a regular basis despite showing flashes of quality during his short time at Anfield.
Carvalho was, like Jones, fairly anonymous against Forest and could arguably benefit from a rest against Ajax to aid his preparations for Liverpool’s next Premier League meeting with Leeds.
The Reds have been heavily reliant on Carvalho in recent weeks as a result of their well-documented injury problems but can now afford to explore other options in midfield, with Henderson fit again and Thiago Alcantara expected to return shortly after recovering from an ear infection.
It remains to be seen how Klopp will respond to Liverpool’s latest defeat, which has ramped up the pressure on his shoulders to improve things quickly as he looks to revive their fading Premier League title hopes.
A few changes to his team selection for Liverpool’s next match against Ajax could be among the options to consider for the 55-year-old, although only time will tell if he eventually manages to succeed in putting things right on Merseyside over the coming weeks.
