There has been a lot of talk about Liverpool’s so-called ‘fab four’ of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane this season. The quartet have been outstanding for much of the campaign.
However, at times Jurgen Klopp has decided to rotate his attacking players. That has meant the four stars have started just three Premier League games together. One of those games was last time out when the Reds drew 0-0 at home against West Brom.
The Reds face a tricky trip to Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, a game in which they are odds of 8/15 to win.
Quartet need to start
Liverpool’s attacking players have been described as the best attacking unit in Europe. The description is not an exaggerated one. On form, they can cause any team defensive problems.
Most teams play to their strength. However, Klopp resting players and rotating his squad is negating his team’s main strength. No doubt, the Liverpool players will get fatigued, but if Liverpool are to be successful they need their star players on the pitch, then when they are winning comfortably substitute them.
Liverpool fans could not understand Klopp’s decision to rest two of the team’s best attacking players in the derby. It was quite a baffling decision from the German boss.
Some may say it was slightly ironic that the Reds failed to find the net in the following game against West Brom.
Attack is the best of defence
The old saying about attack being the best form of defence describes Liverpool perfectly at the minute. Liverpool are very vulnerable at the back. Any sort of decent attack can cause the Reds defensive problems, which is why it is so important for Liverpool to pose as big an attacking threat as possible.
Liverpool have a good enough attack to negate their defensive deficiencies. The Reds defensive problems do not matter if they are constantly attacking. However, last season ironically Liverpool’s attacking threat was not enough to record a victory at Bournemouth.
The Reds threw away a lead and suffered a last-gasp defeat at the Vitality Stadium. This was due to the Merseysiders inability to defend under Jurgen Klopp, who has still not corrected his team’s defensive problems.
Last season’s collapse on the south coast makes it even more important for the Liverpool boss to select all four of the fab four on the pitch on Sunday afternoon.
However, Klopp has made the most changes to his starting line-up of any Premier League boss this season. It would not be a major surprise to see one of the Reds first-choice attacking players benched on Sunday afternoon. The likes of Daniel Sturridge and Dominic Solanke will be hoping to start for Liverpool in the next few games.
Sunday’s game should be an open one
When Liverpool are on top form they are a fantastic attacking team. The pace of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah is frightening to any team. They are very difficult to stop when in full flow. Then there is the energy of Firmino and the magic of Coutinho.
Bournemouth have looked vulnerable in defence since their promotion to the Premier League. Both of these teams like to play attacking, possession-based football, so Sunday’s game should be a good open game.
Whether we will see Liverpool’s fab four start on Sunday only Jurgen Klopp knows. However, if we do then they are sure to pose a far bigger threat to the Cherries backline than if only two or three of them start.
Will Jurgen Klopp field his so-called ‘Fab four’ at the Vitality on Sunday afternoon?
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