This article is part of Football FanCast’s In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets…
Jurgen Klopp decided to play an alternative midfield against Arsenal, giving another run-out to three players who have all had recent troubles with injury, Adam Lallana, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The decision likely pleased Liverpool fans, many of whom have been calling for Naby Keita to be given more game time, and though he has done well against Genk recently, with a Liverpool Echo rating of 7/10, he disappointed on Wednesday.
Like Keita, Lallana has struggled with his fitness in recent times as a result of several niggling injuries. He managed just six starts in 2018/19, with two this campaign, so had seemingly fallen down in the pecking order to the two aforementioned players.
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In contrast to the Guinea international, fans haven’t been too desperate to see Lallana involved, but given their respective contributions of late that seems quite puzzling.
The 31-year-old scored a valuable equaliser against Manchester United recently and played an important role in the win over Arsenal, whereas Keita seemed off the boil and was unable to get into the game.
He struggled for much of last season, too, and as a result started only 16 games in the Premier League, which would indicate that he is not living up to his reported £120,000 a week salary.
As the stats display, the performances of the pair were of polar opposites, and such were Keita’s failures that Klopp made the decision to haul him off early in the second half, youngster Curtis Jones taking his place.
Nothing came off for him and his failure to make an impact will likely be of concern to both fans and his manager alike.
According to WhoScored, Lallana outperformed him in several areas against the Gunners, and did have an influence on proceedings and the success of his team.
The England international adds more of a creative element to the Reds than Keita, summed up by his two key passes, but he also possesses quick-thinking and clever movement, and that is what allowed him to find the net against the Red Devils.
Klopp has always been an admirer of Lallana so it may just be a case of the player maintaining his fitness in order to slot back into the side, as he showed he is a useful player to get the front three going, with two accurate long balls.
As for Keita, it seems he is some way off being ready to challenge the regular midfield three, and the recent form and goals of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain likely means he is the most likely player to break into the team.
