---
title: "Why Klopp needs to address his midfield misfits"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/articles/why-klopp-needs-to-address-his-midfield-misfits/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Brian Gosden"
section: "Articles"
published: "2018-10-03T09:23:40Z"
modified: "2018-10-03T09:23:40Z"
---

# Why Klopp needs to address his midfield misfits

From an outsider’s point of view, everything would seem positive about Liverpool’s 2018/19 campaign so far. It hasn’t been a perfect start in every sense if you take into account the Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of Chelsea, but that can surely be dismissed as a minor blip in a minor competition.

In the league, six wins from six put the Reds ahead at the top of the table, while a [thrilling win over PSG](https://www.skysports.com/football/liverpool-vs-psg/401831) seems to have put Liverpool up among the favourites for Champions League glory. All looks calm aside from one key area of the pitch that Jurgen Klopp may be anxious to address.

### **Still Fighting**

Liverpool may have made an early exit from the League Cup but they remain in contention for three major pieces of silverware. That victory over PSG has made the Reds third favourites at 7/1 to win the Champions League while Klopp’s men have long been second favourites at 7/4, behind Manchester City, to claim their first-ever Premier League title.

The main rounds of the FA Cup have yet to get underway but Liverpool are highly fancied there too at the 6/1 mark. The prices all come from William Hill and, while the bookies don’t always get it right, one glance at a [football accumulator betting guide](https://news.williamhill.com/betting-guides/football-accumulator-tips) suggests that Klopp and his squad remain on course for a historic treble.

To maintain that direction, it may seem that Klopp needs to study concerns in one specific area of the pitch.

### **Midfield Mayhem**

If there is an issue in this world class Liverpool squad, then it may lie in midfield. After the defeat to Chelsea, Jurgen Klopp was shown by the TV cameras to be in an animated debate with Xherdan Shaqiri and it was [confirmed that the discussion](https://talksport.com/football/426808/liverpool-news-jurgen-klopp-explains-heated-words-with-xherdan-shaqiri/) surrounded a wasted free kick.

![Alex Livesey/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2018/10/1037675232.jpg)

Stoke fans would be quick to point at a perceived indifference from the Swiss as their side dropped out of the Premier League last season and while Potters supporters may be naturally disgruntled, it’s an observation to keep in mind.

Another player to emerge with little credit from that defeat to Chelsea was Fabinho, the defensive midfielder who was signed from Monaco in the summer of 2018. An uninspiring debut drew more than its share of criticism from fans on social media.

### **Identifying Weaknesses**

While it may have taken some time for Jurgen Klopp to sign a competent goalkeeper, he has generally impressed with his ability to address obvious gaps in his squad. As the prolific Sturridge and Suarez partnership faded into a distant memory, Mo Salah came along to claim the Golden Boot in his debut season on Merseyside.

![Julian Finney/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2018/10/1035627506.jpg)

In the centre of defence, Virgil Van Dijk finally [completed a prolonged switch](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/01/virgil-van-dijk-describes-liverpool-as-perfect-match-after-completing-75m-world-record-transfer) to Anfield to bring calm where once there was chaos. It now seems that while both Shaqiri and Fabinho are new arrivals at the club, Liverpool may not have quite got it right and, while links with Nabil Fekir and Mario Gotze start to intensify, is there one final piece of the Klopp jigsaw to complete before the club can compete on its remaining three fronts?