In anticipation of Nathaniel Clyne’s return to first-team football, manager Jurgen Klopp believes Liverpool now have a comfortable situation at right back.
Clyne resumed full-training earlier in the week following his recovery from a long-term injury and took part in a full session with the first team in Portugal following their 5-0 champions league win over FC Porto.
Trent Alexander-Arnold started the game at Estadio do Dragao which has led Klopp to believe he has a wealth of options at right-back with Joe Gomez being another option.
Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com:
Clyney obviously missed football. He loves it. It was a long time; it’s crazy how long it was and nobody could have imagined that, but it’s good [to have him back].
All three can’t play, unfortunately. With the full-backs it’s always a little bit [difficult] and also who can play in another position as well. It’s quite specialist – so you either play or you’re not really involved. Clyney needs a little bit of time, that’s true, but [he looks] very good.
Trent did what he did and it’s the first time he’s started three games in a row – I don’t think he thought he could do that. At Southampton, I thought maybe he was a little bit on the edge, but we had no other opportunity [to change] so we had to do it again [at Porto] and he did fantastic.
It’s always like this, you need to be challenge and then you can see it and say, ‘I’m ready for that’. It was good to see
Liverpool will continue their stay in Portugal with a four-day training camp in the absence of FA Cup football and will return to action against West Ham in the Premier League on February 24.
