Good one for Trent to miss...

THE way Manchester City have been playing and Liverpool leaking goals, it might not be a bad thing for Jurgen Klopp to have Joe Gomez at right-back instead of the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold. Gomez is a more orthodox defender and that is even more important now that Liverpool concentrate on that now they’ve switched to 4-2-3-1 to squeeze in an extra attacking player.

If it is going to be Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez today, with Mo Salah and Diogo Jota wider, the priority for Liverpool’s right-back has to be defender first, rather than going forward.

Of course, you would miss the creative ability of AlexanderArnold but what Liverpool hope is that they’ve got the additional firepower up the pitch to make chances anyway.

There will be times Liverpool are on the back foot and that’s when the athleticism and one-onone capabilities of Gomez will be more than useful.

Erling Haaland has been unstoppable but Liverpool look to have the tools as much as anyone in having Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in the middle of defence and Gomez on the right.

They are a powerful and quick trio that might deal with Haaland. Joel Matip and Alexander-Arnold are technically better but when you’re facing the best team in Europe, you need the most solid defensive armoury available.

JURGEN STILL BELIEVES

I UNDERSTAND why Klopp has said Liverpool can’t compete with the wealthiest clubs like Manchester City. It’s a reality check to critics of Liverpool’s transfer policy.

But does the man himself believe it? I don’t think so. It’s only a few months since Liverpool were competing for a historic Quadruple so of course they can challenge with the best.

Klopp didn’t go into the first day of pre-season thinking Liverpool couldn’t compete. He would have gone in thinking they could win every trophy going. Things haven’t started off so well but that doesn’t mean the ambition is restricted forever.

We know what the Liverpool manager is like. He wouldn’t put everything into his work if he didn’t think they couldn’t compete. Yes, Liverpool won’t be able afford as many £50million players as City but Klopp recognises money doesn’t create hunger, cohesion, tactics.

It buys you top players but there is more than that to building a winning team. In my view, Klopp’s comments were a kind of mind games, a message to people who expect Liverpool to win every game. But does he honestly think they can’t compete with City? I don’t think so.

DIDI DESERVES BETTER

DIETMAR HAMANN is a friend and former team-mate, Klopp is a managerial God in my eyes for what he’s done at Liverpool.

The pair obviously don’t get along but I don’t think there is any need for the Liverpool boss to get personal if Didi says something he doesn’t like or even thinks is disrespectful.

Klopp has so much credit in the bank, he doesn’t need to justify himself to anyone, even ex-Liverpool players in the media.

If a Hamann quote is thrown at him in a press conference, I think Klopp would be much better just saying ‘Next question, not interested’ rather than stoking the fire with personal put-downs.

Pundits are there to express an opinion, Klopp is better to just let them get on with it. He’s too good at his job to worry about what others think.