Klopp: Fabinho among centre-back options
Fabinho is an option to play centre-back for Liverpool in the coming weeks, revealed Jürgen Klopp.
The Reds currently have only two senior natural choices for the position in Dejan Lovren and Virgil van Dijk, with Joe Gomez and Joel Matip injured.
Tonight’s trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers is the first of four Premier League matches in a fortnight for Klopp’s table-topping side.
Assessing his cover for central defence, the manager confirmed Fabinho as back-up and explained why a three-man system using two midfielders in deeper roles - a plan deployed at Brighton and Hove Albion last season - is also an alternative.
“I hope Dejan can play them all but I don’t know in the moment. It looks really good,” said Klopp.
“We don’t really have options. But Fabinho can play at centre-half as well so that’s good.
“Nat Phillips is injured as well, which is a real shame. We may have to think about other options like three at the back with two midfielders or stuff like that.
“If something else happens we would have to do something like that. When I saw the Southampton v Arsenal line-ups I saw Arsenal are already in a situation where they have to make these changes.
“It’s just the situation and the job to do. If we can keep them fit it’s very important but who knows?”
The boss reiterated that, with Gomez and Matip expected to return in the New Year, it is unlikely Liverpool will look to reinforce via the January transfer window.
“I would say no but I don’t know exactly what will happen until the transfer window closes,” he said.
“In the moment it looks that Joe and Joel will be back before the window closes so why should we do that?
“Could we get somebody just for January with the quality we need? I am not sure that is possible.”