Jurgen Klopp has a moerse defensive selection headache ahead of tonight’s Champions League opener at Ajax Amsterdam (9pm).
With star centreback Virgil van Dijk set to miss the rest of the season with an knee injury suffered in the Merseyside derby against Everton, boss Klopp has another kopseer in the form of Joel Matip.
Van Dijk’s replacement at Goodison Park complained about a muscle injury after the game and was sent for scans.
And even though the scans didn’t reveal anything to worry about, it is not expected that Klopp will gamble on the 29-year-old for this clash.
That leaves only one man to turn to - midfielder Fabinho, who impressed as a makeshift central defender next to Van Dijk in their 2-0 Premier League win at Chelsea last month. Back then, Van Dijk said of his partner: “Outstanding. I just told him as well I think he was Man of the Match overall he was outstanding.”
With Van Dijk’s stamp of approval, Klopp will have to trust his players in a game he is excited to be involved in.
Of the Dutch opponents, the German says: “Ajax changed their philosophy slightly.
"[Daley] Blind is there, [Dusan] Tadic is there, [Quincy] Promes, [Davy] Klaassen they got back from Bremen - so a few players that played earlier in their career at Ajax, then mix it up with a lot of really young and exciting talents. That’s how it is.
“Two years ago they played an exceptional Champions League campaign, absolutely exceptional.
“The way they played, wow. So, now we meet and I’m excited.”