Liverpool: Cup setbacks raise concerns over lack of squad depth

Liverpool are currently in the midst of a tough schedule and Jurgen Klopp’s squad are not fairing too well with the team’s preferred starting XI unable to play every game.

Liverpool have been one of the best teams in the Premier League over the first half of the season. Jurgen Klopp’s troops have demolished many opponents during that time, and currently sit in second place in the Premier League standings.

But that is the Premier League. Cup competitions are proving to be something a little bit different right now. A 0-0 draw with League Two’s Plymouth Argyle saw Liverpool – and Klopp – on the end of some harsh criticism.

And the Reds followed that up with a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in an EFL Cup semifinal first leg on Wednesday. Klopp decided to change his starting lineup dramatically for the game against Plymouth, before then fielding a much more recognisable XI for the meeting with the Saints.

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Not that Klopp’s decision to rotate helped much as Liverpool were soundly beaten by Southampton. The Reds were lucky it was only a 1-0 defeat, as Loris Karius kept the away team in the tie. Many are now questioning Klopp’s decision to rotate his team.

However, the decision to rotate was correct and it is the pieces that Klopp had at his disposal that should be questioned. The team against Plymouth was Liverpool’s youngest ever starting XI. The 0-0 draw itself invited questioning, but with a semifinal to come, and a crucial showdown against Manchester United following, Klopp had to ring the changes.

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The German demands too much energy and work rate from his teams for them to play three games in eight days. The real story is what Klopp had to bring in to freshen things up. Sadio Mane is away at the African Nations Cup, whilst Philippe Coutinho is only just healthy after an ankle injury.

There have also been recent injuries to Jordan Henderson and Joel Matip. Klopp’s options were already limited, but have been even more so this week. The squad just couldn’t cope. Given the two cup setbacks, all eyes will now turn to the clash with United on Sunday.

Many of those players who played on Wednesday will have to pick themselves up for that huge game. And, of course, Klopp is going to demand all the energy and zest that he does in every game. Maybe even more for this clash.

Lose to United though, and what many speculated earlier in the season will have been, partially, proven true. Liverpool’s success this season has, in many ways, been thanks to the fact that they have no European competition to play this season.

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No distractions. No reason to test the squad depth. Until now, Klopp has been able to pretty much field the same XI over and over and over again. The results were impressive. Scary, even. But now Klopp is being forced to rotate and the results are quite different.

If there were murmurings about Liverpool’s squad depth earlier in the season, they’re a whole lot louder now.

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