Keita and Bajcetic offer alternative
Asking Naby Keita and Stefan Bajcetic to help shock a spluttering season back into life isn’t how any Liverpool supporter would have envisaged matters last summer.
But this hasn’t been a normal campaign for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
After the tried-and-trusted midfield trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara posted successive poor offerings, the Liverpool boss realised it was time for an injection of fresh energy and new blood.
PLAYER RATINGS: Harvey Elliott and three others excellent against Wolves
VERDICT: What Harvey Elliott did in injury time as 'wild' moment could spark Liverpool change
Enter Keita, making his first start since the Premier League visit of Wolves at the end of last season, and Bajcetic, the 18-year-old beginning a game for only the first time in his senior career.
Klopp’s faith was soon rewarded. Keita, pressing with intent, played a part in running from deep to give Harvey Elliott the space to fire in the winner, and was always looking to move Liverpool forward in a rare 90-minute outing. There could still be a role for him during the likely closing months of his time at Anfield.
Bajcetic, though, was the revelation, the 18-year-old calm and composed in the midst of a frenetic FA Cup tie midfield.
His passing wasn’t always on point – that will come over time – but, with his team-mates willingly mopping up any mistakes, the Spaniard was undeterred, showing a good sense for sniffing out danger.
Thiago, too, deserves credit, the criticism of his display on Saturday surely still stinging as he probed constantly. He could also claim a cheeky assist for Elliott’s strike. This midfield combination worked well.
New signings show promise
So rare had the sightings of Fabio Carvalho been in recent weeks that, speaking ahead of this game, Jurgen Klopp was asked what was happening with the young forward.
“There are no, from my point of view, personal situations or stuff like this,” said the Liverpool boss. “He’s behaving well. It’s just sports decisions that you make for the moment.”
The inference, of course, is that despite Liverpool being shorn of four forwards, for good reason has summer signing Carvalho been shuffling his feet on the bench for the previous five games having been hooked at half-time after scoring in the Carabao Cup defeat at Manchester City almost a month ago.
Opportunity, though, came knocking here as Carvalho gave a welcome reminder of his attributes when filling the left flank role that has proven so troublesome for the Reds due to the relentless injury issues this season.
The 20-year-old can be happy with efforts, putting in a real stint and forging an understanding with Cody Gakpo. His pressing caused Wolves problems, and a good first-half finish was chalked off by an offside call.
Gakpo, meanwhile, was far brighter than in his previous two outings since arriving from PSV Eindhoven, a natural in the false nine role and aided by a midfield that played to his strengths.
Both Carvalho and Gakpo were replaced midway through the second half, but this was a better night for two forwards still finding their feet at Liverpool.
Gomez drops hint
This, by Jurgen Klopp’s own admission, isn’t Caoimhin Kelleher’s competition. But the goalkeeper became a beneficiary of the fall-out from Saturday’s horror show at Brighton by being handed only a third start of the season and a mere 20th appearance of his still fledgling Liverpool career.
Kelleher can’t have had many quieter nights, such was the lack of threat from a Wolves attack impressively shackled by a Liverpool defence that has attracted deserved brickbats of late.
Joe Gomez was the standout – excellent at both centre-back and right-back to stake his claim in the ongoing absence of Virgil van Dijk – with Ibrahima Konate not too far behind.
James Milner, making his first outing in almost a month, offered experience and reliability as a makeshift right-back, while Nat Phillips was similarly solid when emerging for the final quarter, the Reds earning a first clean sheet since November and first domestic away clean sheet since the goalless draw at Everton in September.
And this was only a sixth win in 15 games away from Anfield this season. A step in the right direction, then.
READ NEXT:
- Liverpool sale latest as QSI 'takeover' truth emerges after Mohamed Salah 'meeting'
- Liverpool fully 'focused' on Jude Bellingham deal as Jurgen Klopp stance clear
- Mark Lawrenson makes blunt Cody Gakpo transfer claim amid major Liverpool 'problem'
- 'Never going to work' - Liverpool blasted as Reds icon raises Jurgen Klopp concern
- Liverpool injury list and expected return dates including Darwin Nunez
