Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has urged Jurgen Klopp to play Nathaniel Phillips and Ozan Kabak as the centre-back pairing against Leicester City this weekend.
The Reds make the trip to the King Power Stadium on Saturday lunchtime looking to go level on points with their third-placed opponents. Klopp now has defensive options after bringing in Kabak and Ben Davies last week, potentially allowing Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to return to midfield.
Speaking to Off The Ball [via HITC], Lawrenson said this is exactly what Klopp should consider doing for the Leicester game, giving Phillips and Kabak a run together in the process:
I would play one of the young kids now like Phillips, who came in and did absolutely nothing wrong. The manager probably thought the game was a little too big for him at the weekend.
Just give somebody like him a run. The new boy they signed from Schalke, Kabak as well. And what’s the worst thing that can happen? They aren’t winning games.
Take Fabinho out and put him in midfield. Take Henderson out and put him in midfield. And just start winning football matches again.
Read Liverpool Verdict
Much of what Lawrenson says makes sense, but throwing Phillips and Kabak together for a game of this magnitude arguably feels a step too far.
Fabinho has been magnificent at centre-back this season and I think it makes more sense to keep him there for now, allowing Kabak to slot in alongside a more established player.
Over time, it is vital that the Brazilian goes back into the defensive midfield role in which he thrives, but given the potency of Leicester’s attack, going with Phillips and a debutant in Kabak could be a major risk.
