Jurgen Klopp’s gamble by playing Jordan Henderson as a center-back led to poor results for Liverpool after losing to Southampton.
Southampton won 1-0 in Week 17 of the Premier League at St’s Stadium. Mary’s, Tuesday (5/1), thanks to a Danny Ings goal in the second minute after using James Ward-Prowse’s free kick.
The goal was actually Trent Alexander-Arnold’s mistake who failed to anticipate Ward-Prowse’s free kick. However, because Henderson focused on the back line, Liverpool’s midfield seemed to lose the control that the 30-year-old had been holding.
As a result, Liverpool’s attack path to the Southampton defense was reduced. So far, Henderson is like the Liverpool game conductor who knows where the ball will go when attacking.
Unfortunately, Henderson’s neat passes from the second sector were not seen against Southampton, especially in the first half.
The long absence of a number of mainstay center-backs, Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk, made Klopp dizzy and needed to rack his brains so that Liverpool could still get the most out of the hurricane of injury and the competition this season is still long.
Southampton itself is not an easy opponent for the Reds even though they are in the middle of a period of failing to win in the last four matches before against Liverpool.
Looking at Southampton’s report cards who have been in the top flight of the Premier League this season and have screwed up the title race, Klopp should need to be careful, if this team can make it difficult for them.
In the end, Klopp chose to play a duo Fabinho and Jordan Henderson at the heart of Liverpool’s defense against Southampton. Fabinho and Henderson are players who are not in the original position at center back.
Looking at the composition of players on the Liverpool bench, Klopp still has two young center-backs: Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips.
Williams and Phillips did not completely disappoint as substitutes. When both played, Liverpool never lost, but several times lost three points, for example against West Bromwich Albion (1-1) when playing Williams.
However, thanks to Williams’ performance, Liverpool also won 2-1 over Tottenham Hotspur in Week 13 of the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Klopp has only played Henderson as a center-back once. That moment occurred in week 12 against Fulham. At that time Henderson suddenly became a center-back in the second half after Joel Matip was replaced by Takumi Minamino. Liverpool also only drew 1-1 against Fulham.
In preparation for the duel against Southampton, Klopp’s decision was unanimous, not playing a pure center-back and choosing Fabinho-Henderson.
The German coach also accepted the risk, Liverpool’s midfield was less agitated in the first half and dropped points this week.
Without Henderson in midfield, Liverpool rely on the creativity of Thiago Alcantara. Unfortunately, Thiago’s slick performance was not visible in the first 45 minutes.
Liverpool also played backpass several times to keeper Alisson, who looked like he had doubts about passing the ball down the middle to build up an attack. As a result of frequent backpasses, Alisson himself almost make mistake which could put Southampton 2-0 up.
The defending Premier League champions are not without attacks and chances in the first half. Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino got the chance, which unfortunately often broke in the opponent’s defense or goalkeeper Fraser Forster. But the real situation would be different if Henderson were in midfield.
Liverpool’s failure to score and excel in the first half resulted in the defeat of Southampton. Because, in the second half the visitors dominated the game and attack, on the other hand Southampton only defended and relied on counter attacks.
The meeting and the solidity of the Southampton defense made it difficult for Liverpool to score. An accumulation that occurs from failing to break into the opponent’s goal in the first half.
Henderson himself performed quite well at center-back and did not make important blunders. This was also supported by the lack of Southampton attacks from the midfield sector.
Liverpool’s defeat this time was not due to Henderson’s blunder at center-back. That way, Klopp doesn’t need to feel too guilty because he will be a scapegoat. As the former Borussia Dortmund coach said before the match.
“If he [Henderson] makes a mistake, it’s my fault. If he does well, that’s a credit to him,” Klopp said.
However, not playing Henderson was not in his ideal position as a midfielder so it was a bad gamble for the Reds which was fatal.
Like gambling, there are always two possible sides, namely winning and losing. In this gamble, Klopp must accept defeat.
