Here is your Liverpool morning digest for Thursday, October 6.
What Liverpool dressing room thinks of formation change
Having had Sunday as a recovery day following the 3-3 draw with Brighton, Jurgen Klopp and his staff didn't have a lot of time to implement a change in Liverpool's system for the visit of Rangers, writes Paul Gorst.
Klopp told his players on Monday that the tried-and-trusted 4-3-3 would be taking a backseat for the first-ever competitive meeting between the clubs on Tuesday evening as the German attempted to tweak things and kick-start a spluttering campaign.
A 4-4-2 was how the manager himself described it as he settled on a two-man midfield of Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson, who ably probed, passed and pressed behind an exciting looking attack that featured Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.
READ MORE: What Jordan Henderson did before Mohamed Salah penalty as new Liverpool trick works again
Having already conceded 15 goals across all competitions this season, the clean sheet was a welcome outcome for an embattled defence that had looked so shaky just a few days earlier at home to Brighton.
It's a system that Klopp has rarely selected in recent years from the start. A bold selection at Manchester City in November 2020 saw all four of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Jota and Salah start and the move perhaps took Pep Guardiola by surprise as Liverpool started brightly in a creditable 1-1 draw.
An effort to jolt some life into his attack saw that same quartet named in a disappointing draw with Newcastle in late April of last year too, while Klopp has reverted to the use of four attackers late on in games that his team have been chasing.
For the most part, however, the 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1, have been decidedly used as Plan Bs for the Liverpool boss in recent years. The 2-0 win over Rangers might just force a re-think on that front, however, if only temporarily.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
Darwin Nunez breaks silence on 'difficult' Liverpool start
Darwin Nunez admits he has found it "a little difficult" to adapt to life at Liverpool - and revealed how he is overcoming the language barrier with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
Nunez has struggled to make a consistent impact since his potential club record £85million move from Benfica in the summer, not helped by missing three games through suspension following his red card against Crystal Palace in August.
The 23-year-old has yet to score at Anfield, but posted his best overall performance for Liverpool when making his third start in Tuesday's home 2-0 Champions League win over Rangers.
And Nunez is confident the support of the manager and his team-mates can continue helping him acclimatise in his new environment.
"The truth is that it was a little difficult to adapt, but I believe that, as training and games go by, I will adapt little by little," he said. "I have the support of my team-mates.
"(After the red card) was a very tough time. I was suspended for three games, I know I made a big mistake and now I'm aware that it won't happen again. I have to calm my nerves during the games, talk less. We all make mistakes and I know it will serve as a learning and an experience."
READ THE FULL STORY HERE.
READ NEXT:
- 'The gaffer told us yesterday' - Mohamed Salah speaks out on new Liverpool plan and next move for team
- Luis Diaz speaks out on Sadio Mane exit and tough start to Liverpool season
- Jurgen Klopp finds new midfield option as bold change helps Mohamed Salah
- Dimitar Berbatov names Liverpool star as one of the best players he's worked with
- Darwin Nunez critics should not ignore his Liverpool truth after Rangers display
