Liverpool were the first team this season to keep a cleansheet against Leicester as Benteke scored the only goal of the match. PHOTO: AFP
Jurgen Klopp’s most significant challenge as Liverpool manager at the moment is figuring out how to manage his squad in the face of an ever-expanding fixture list.
Having played nine games in January — more than any other Premier League team — Klopp’s side’s trip to leaders Leicester City on Tuesday is the first of at least seven matches in February.
That tally will rise to eight if they beat West Ham United in next week’s FA Cup fourth-round replay.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw against the Hammers was Liverpool’s 37th fixture of the campaign, and it is mathematically possible that they could end up playing 69 competitive matches this season.
Goals aplenty: Liverpool sink Norwich 5-4 in thriller
But Klopp has indicated that he will use his tried and trusted senior players to face Leicester. “[The younger] players are in our squad because they are an option for us,” said Klopp. “But we have to decide if it is the right moment or not.”
The German added the younger players may not be able to cope with too much added responsibility. “Young lads often have waves in their development. They have ups and downs, and if you bring them in at the wrong moment, then it’s not too good for their development,” he said.
Liverpool are one of only two clubs to have beaten Leicester in the league to date, so Tuesday’s game gives Claudio Ranieri’s men an opportunity to avenge that defeat in December and offer further proof of their title credentials.
A 3-0 win against an in-form Stoke last week answered many of the doubts about the Foxes, but their next three games will ask more taxing questions.
Spurs, Liverpool reach FA Cup fourth round
After facing Liverpool they will take on Manchester City and then Arsenal, the only other club to beat them in a league game in 2015-16.
“We’ve got three games against big teams and they are important,” said defender Christian Fuchs. “We want to win against Liverpool.”
Arsenal out to avenge Southampton humiliation
Arsene Wenger will hope his Arsenal side can put a disappointing January behind them and get their Premier League title challenge back on track at home to Southampton.
Wenger’s team are winless in three league games — a run that means they head into the latest round of fixtures in third place, three points adrift of Leicester.
Liverpool’s New Year resolution foiled by West Ham
The weekend’s FA Cup fourth-round victory over Burnley helped draw a line under the disappointing home league defeat by Chelsea.
Up against a Southampton side that routed them 4-0 in the reverse fixture in December, Wenger must decide how many changes to make to his line-up after making nine alterations against Burnley.
Calum Chambers came in at right-back and scored, but is expected to make way for Hector Bellerin, while Per Mertesacker should return to the heart of the defence in place of Gabriel after serving a one-match ban.
Mertesacker was dismissed against Chelsea for bringing down Diego Costa, but Wenger has no doubts about the continuing importance of the Germany international to his team.
“We forget the amount of times Mertesacker saves a goal from going in and that happens,” said the Arsenal manager. “The risk is part of the game and you have to feel comfortable with that. Mistakes are part of that competition.”
Southampton head to North London on the back of three successive wins, including a 1-0 victory at Manchester United last time out.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2016.
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