It seems pretty clear that Jurgen Klopp needed to do *something* after Alberto Moreno’s performance against Arsenal.
It’s not every week that an opponent will miss a penalty and give you the opportunity to score four goals away from home, so a greater defensive solidity for the trip to Burnley seemed essential to even the most optimistic Reds fan.
The only issue facing Klopp was the lack of another natural left-back. Emre Can was used there on occasion last season, while another past option – Jon Flanagan – will be at the game but in the Burnley camp, having joined Sean Dyche’s team on loan.
There is a solution, or at least the manager thinks he’s found one: utility man James Milner.
The former England international – who retired from Three Lions duty earlier in the summer – has played in most other positions, so why not at left-back?
The move has been met with scepticism
https://twitter.com/TVsCarlKinsella/status/766989496978026496
Muffled embarrassment
There's eleven days left in the transfer window and Liverpool are still starting with Mignolet and having to play Milner at full back.
— Chris (@chrs00) August 20, 2016
And acknowledgement that sure, it’s a thing, but why?
https://twitter.com/TheM_L_G/status/766983237230927872
But plenty of Liverpool supporters do seem genuinely pleased with the decision to put literally anyone but Moreno Milner there.
https://twitter.com/tomrowelfc/status/766984189208039425
https://twitter.com/TomHolmes19/status/766983243505598464
Love that Milner starts, was proper convinced he wouldn't have dropped Moreno after the PR defending him this week. Still not buying a LB
— Adam 🇺🇾 (@LFCAdam88196) August 20, 2016
There’s some recognition that Liverpool aren’t in an ideal situation, however, and we sense people won’t be happy if this is still Klopp’s plan of action after the close of the transfer window.
Not sure how Milner will improve on Moreno either. Moreno has 2 flaws. 1) gets beaten easily 1 v 1 when stood up.
— reverse_ball (@reverse_ball) August 20, 2016
Klopp starting Milner tells you exactly what he thinks about Moreno, we'll surely get a LB in this window if one fits the criteria
— Dinesh Kumar (@DHardayal) August 20, 2016
Read more