UNEXPECTED: Jurgen Klopp might have to turn to Liverpool unknown after unexpected dilemma

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s hamstring injury could given Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool an unexpected dilemma

Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Aston Villa at Anfield
Jurgen Klopp, Manager of Liverpool, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Aston Villa at Anfield
When Liverpool first introduced their new hybrid formation back in April, the switch was implemented not only to rescue their season but to also get the best from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Having already drawn 0-0 away at Chelsea prior to the change, they unleashed their 3-2-2-3 system for the first time in their 2-2 comeback draw at home to Arsenal. In such a set-up, the England international starts at right-back in the Reds’ traditional 4-3-3, only to move central into a box midfield when Jurgen Klopp’s side are on the ball.

Liverpool would remain unbeaten following the change in set-up, with Alexander-Arnold recording a goal and seven assists from his final 10 appearances of the season, as they recovered to finish fifth and qualify for the Europa League after the most disappointing of campaigns.

Consequently, the new formation was the go-to system for the Reds throughout pre-season. And persisting with it for their first four games of the season, Klopp’s men are now unbeaten from their last 15 matches – the longest ongoing run in the Premier League.

Admittedly injuries to centre-backs and midfielders, along with a delayed signing of a new number six to replace Fabinho, has prompted Klopp to tweak the set-up so far this season. In the 3-1 home victory over AFC Bournemouth, Alexander-Arnold’s movement to the middle was far more limited with the defender splitting his time between attacking down the right.

And in Sunday’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, Liverpool implemented a hybrid of the hybrid role. Rather than repeatedly step forward into midfield when the Reds were in possession, Alexander-Arnold instead switched to a centre-back role, with Joel Matip moving to the right, to help start his side’s attacks from deep.

In truth, we are yet to see Klopp’s long-term plan for Liverpool’s set-up having only just built the Reds’ new-look midfield with the deadline day signing of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich. The Netherlands international became the German’s fourth engine-room, joining in a deal worth up to £40m to complete an £150m overhaul along with Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo.

Yet from that quartet, Liverpool lack a clear starting holding midfielder. While it is Endo’s natural position, the 30-year-old needs time to adapt to Premier League football and prove he can be more than just an experienced squad option.

Elsewhere, Mac Allister has played the deeper role in three of the Reds’ four games so far this season, despite it not being his favoured role. And despite Gravenberch predominantly being a number eight, it is understood Klopp feels the player is able to develop overtime in a more defensive-minded position.

Alexander-Arnold had played that holding midfield role himself at the start of pre-season, with youngster Conor Bradley impressing as an inverted full-back. However, a stress fracture in the Northern Irishman’s back that will rule him out for around three months ensured there was no possibility of such an experiment continuing into the new season. Curtis Jones was then briefly turned to at number six, before Mac Allister emerged as a more suitable option.

Meanwhile, Kostas Tsimikas was the only other player to be utilised as an inverted full-back throughout pre-season. While Bradley and Alexander-Arnold started in such a role on the right in the first halves of Liverpool’s five friendlies, the Greek stepped into the mantle when replacing Andy Robertson and the invert switched flanks.

The Reds’ new system is a work in progress, with both positives and negatives to its implementation. Five months on from its debut, and it is something Liverpool are both still tweaking as they go and working hard to perfect. As a result, despite the hybrid formation’s initial success last season, the jury still remains out.

Only once new signings bed in and players return from injury, will Klopp’s long-term vision become clear. But for all the different midfield combinations, such a set-up could be about to face its greatest test yet.

The 24-year-old was forced off with a hamstring injury after 71 minutes in Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Aston Villa, with teenager Jarell Quansah brought on in his place for his Anfield debut. His introduction would see Joe Gomez switch to right-back, with the defender also replacing Alexander-Arnold after 76 minutes in the Reds’ 3-1 victory over AFC Bournemouth.

On both occasions Liverpool would switch to a more traditional defensive set-up. But it’s a different story reverting back to basics with 15 minutes to go and the game already won.

While Alexander-Arnold’s hamstring injury is reportedly only minor, it has forced him to withdraw from the England squad for the September international break. The Athletic report the defender is set to be out for two weeks and is a doubt for the Reds’ trip to Wolves in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday 16 September as a result.

With Bradley injured, James Milner now a Brighton & Hove Albion player, and Calvin Ramsay on loan at Preston North End, Gomez is Klopp’s only senior alternative to Alexander-Arnold at right-back.

Yet with Ibrahima Konate having also withdrawn from international duty for France with a muscle injury, and Virgil van Dijk waiting to see if his suspension after being sent off against Newcastle United will be extended after being charged by the FA, Liverpool are light at centre-back also having ultimately not strengthened in the position this summer.

Should Alexander-Arnold, Konate and Van Dijk all be absent, Quansah could well find himself handed a first Premier League start alongside Joel Matip, with Gomez instead stationed at right-back. Alternatively, Endo has experience playing centre-back in Germany.

Yet if Gomez does take his fellow England international’s place against Wolves, he won’t be utilised as an inverted full-back.

So would Klopp switch his flanks and potentially consider Tsimikas to start in place of Robertson, if the Greek is considered more-suited to such a position? Or would the Reds just return to traditional back four, without an obvious natural holding midfielder in front of it?

“We will see how we do that because we can play different systems,” Klopp would admit before facing Aston Villa. “We have to think about that during the season, definitely.

“But we are still early in the season and we have to find it into the season. We do that not with 12 changes in four days but by keeping things like they are and going from there.

“That is what we will do in the moment, but we will keep our eyes open for that is the best specific line-up and then we will adapt.”

While talking predominantly about his midfield on such an occasion, the German would not have expected to have to adapt to such an extent in Liverpool’s very next game.

Admittedly, in an ideal world Alexander-Arnold returns in time to face Wolves. But if not, as has often been the case throughout the 24-year-old’s Anfield career, the Reds face the near-impossible task of trying to replace the full-back. In their hybrid formation, such a task is now even tougher.

If Klopp persists with this new system, Liverpool will need to unleash a new inverted full-back. If not, they will likely return to a natural 4-3-3 formation that repeatedly failed them last year, but could be resurrected by a new-look midfield.

Either way, Alexander-Arnold’s potential absence leaves Klopp’s side facing up to the possibility of briefly stepping into the unknown without a proven answer. As has been the case so far this season, they are learning as they go.

And while only a minor injury this time, next time the Reds might not be so luc.