Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Theo Squires

Liverpool's Dejan Lovren conundrum and Jurgen Klopp's one Porto headache

Fresh from keeping their Premier League title hopes alive by beating Chelsea on Sunday, Liverpool return to Champions League action as they travel to Porto on Wednesday night.

The Reds ran out 5-0 victors on their last visit to Portugal in the round-of-16 on their way to the final last season, and, after a 2-0 first leg win at Anfield, will be hopeful of reaching at least another semi-final this time around.

With Porto needing three goals to progress while keeping Jurgen Klopp's side out at the other end, the German has the luxury of again making changes to his side as he looks to keep legs fresh ahead of a decisive season run-in.

Dejan Lovren, James Milner and Jordan Henderson all earned recalls a week ago for the first leg at Anfield, but only the latter retained his place for Liverpool's Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Meanwhile, Gini Wijnaldum will be eyeing up a recall after being absent from Klopp's starting XI for the Reds' last two outings. But what does the Liverpool boss have up his sleeve for the trip to Portugal?

The Lovren conundrum

The Croatian was one of Liverpool's best performers during the second half of last season, as well as their best player in last year's Champions League Final against Real Madrid, but injury has limited him to just 11 starts in league and Europe this campaign.

Having been limited to just two substitute appearances since limping off early against Wolves in the FA Cup back in January, Klopp handed the centre-back only his third start of 2019 for last Tuesday's first leg meeting with Porto.

However, the Reds boss then kept faith in Joel Matip by recalling the Cameroonian for Sunday's clash with Chelsea.

Joe Gomez is nearing a first team return and remains first-choice when fit, but Klopp is loyal to his players and Matip is deserving of keeping his place alongside Virgil van Dijk.

But with one foot in the semi-finals, does Lovren get earn a recall? Having fielded Loris Karius as his Champions League goalkeeper while Simon Mignolet lined up for Premier League action during the first half of last season, could Klopp now be doing the same with the two centre-backs?

The midfield headache

Fabinho and Naby Keita have started Liverpool's last three matches in the heart of midfield, with Henderson surging his way up the pecking order following his impressive performances in a more advanced role.

Having seen his side impress, does Klopp keep faith in the midfield that beat Porto before and Chelsea?

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool talking with Georginio Wijnaldum during a training session at Melwood Training ground on March 12, 2019 (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

If not, Wijnaldum will be itching for a recall having previously been a virtual ever-present, while James Milner could start in his favoured midfield role having been utilised at left-back in place of the suspended Andy Robertson for the first leg.

With a trip to Cardiff City the Reds' next outing upon their return from Portugal, you'd expect all five players to start at least once.

But which trio will Klopp choose?

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.