Ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Liverpool FC’s recent struggles on the pitch can be attributed to many factors, one of which is the season-long absence of defensive colossus Virgil van Dijk.
Jurgen Klopp’s outfit have endured a leaky backline since Van Dijk’s sideline due to a long-term ACL injury layoff as the Liverpool FC boss has been forced to turn to makeshift options in the heart of the defence besides bringing in fresh blood on deadline day in last month’s transfer window.
According to reports from the Mirror, Wenger said that that slotting of Jordan Henderson in the centre-back role had stripped the Merseysiders of their skipper’s ability in the midfield three, which in turn was affecting their strength in winning the ball back from the opponents.
“There are many reasons, one of the main reasons is that they lost Van Dijk,” Wenger said.
“What was their strength was winning the ball high with Henderson in midfield, and Milner, by moving Henderson back they have lost that.”
“I’m trying to find some logical explanation. Liverpool were very efficient because time given to their opponent was short,” he added.
“By changing their structure they gave a bit more time to their opponent.
The arrivals of Ozan Kabak and Ben Davies could tempt Klopp into shifting Henderson back to his preferred role on the pitch when the Reds take on RB Leipzig in the Last-16 of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.
Fabinho is yet another name in Klopp’s first-team ranks that has been forced to operate at centre-back owing to the ever-increasing injury list at Anfield
