Selection Headache: Who Should Be Liverpool’s First Choice Back Four Options?

The Barclays premier league is a fortnight away and teams are gearing up with their pre-season friendlies. Liverpool are looking in good shape but they have some injury concerns at the back. In the game against Chelsea, Fabregas made a harsh challenge on Klavan which left him injured and the Chelsea midfielder was sent off subsequently. Last season Liverpool had defensive problems with the center back partnership not working initially and the left back woes with Moreno. Klopp must have surely worked a lot on that and as per the current squad, this is what the first choice options look like for the Reds for the season.
Clyne, Matip/Sakho, Lovren/Klavan, Moreno/New arrival

The right back position looks pretty much sorted with Nathaniel Clyne showing a lot of consistency last season and almost cementing his position at the back. Liverpool have not bothered much to look for options for the RB position as they still have the services of Jon Flanagan as an alternative to Clyne.

The new signing Matip looks most likely to start for the Reds with doubts over the suspension of Mamadou Sakho. In the last season, the defensive partnership of Lovren and Sakho had really flourished towards the end but that doesn’t seem likely this time around. Klopp will try and have Matip and Lovren as his first choice defenders with a possibility of Klavan as an alternative. The new defender is considered a good marksman and defends set pieces really well.

Dejan Lovren is one defender who had been under the shadow of criticism during his initial time at Liverpool. However, after the arrival of Klopp, there has been a tremendous improvement in the Slovakian’s game and last season he had become the first choice defender over Skrtel and Toure. Klopp will try and juggle between Lovren and Klavan or might even to look to play them as a partnership.

The left back position looks the most vulnerable and doubtful at the moment with Moreno being the only choice for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp is definitely looking for options for the role and a lot of names have been linked so far. Liverpool will need to have another left back as an alternative to Moreno but as per the current squad, the Spaniard looks likely to start. Liverpool will need to get their defensive act together if they are to have any chances of finishing in the top four.