Former Liverpool legend feels Klopp must bench key midfielder for Champions League final

Emre Can may have missed out on the last few games of the season due to a back injury but he is back after making a recovery. That does raise a lot of questions with regards to team selection ahead of Liverpool’s upcoming Champions League final against Real Madrid.

Regardless of how most people feel about the game, one cannot deny that it will have an immense impact on our fortunes. We may have secured a top-four finish in the Premier League but winning the elite European competition will help establish ourselves as the new kings of Europe, and Liverpool are in dire need of doing so.

Our front trio has been excellent but our midfield has been a tad lacklustre. James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson are working hard but we are missing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s presence.

To make matters worse, Emre Can’s contract situation remains unresolved and that does cast question marks about his inclusion as well.

However, according to former Liverpool star John Aldridge, Jurgen Klopp will be better off keeping Can on the bench.

In his recent column for Liverpool Echo, Aldridge wrote:

“I’m not sure I want Emre Can in the squad for the Champions League final on Saturday because his heart isn’t at Liverpool.

“It’s a tricky one for the manager. Do you use his experience now he’s fit or do you turn to people whose future is at the club?”

Well, that is a question worth pondering for Klopp. Going into this game, we will need all hands on the deck and by that, we require players who will play with all their heart.

Can, even when fit, has been frustratingly inconsistent. In such a situation, it would make sense for Klopp to go ahead with Henderson at the base of the midfield since this is a do-or-die opportunity for Liverpool.