Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must show their worth to Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp
With a hectic Christmas schedule to come, Jürgen Klopp will need to make the most of his squad
Another victory in a gameweek that saw Jurgen Klopp’s side extend the gap at the Premier League summit, it wouldn’t come without a price as Georginio Wijnaldum was forced off to give the German more food for thought ahead of a critical month in the fixture list.
The Dutchman, who has been a prominent player so far this term, particularly in the absence of Fabinho, sustained a muscular injury before being replaced by Andy Robertson on the half-hour mark, sparking fears that he could become the latest in a growing line of injury concerns for the Premier League leaders.
While initial fears over the extent of his injury will have been alleviated following his surprise inclusion in the 20-man travelling squad for the Club World Cup in Qatar, Saturday’s close call underlined the importance of depth ahead of a busy few weeks for the club.
Likewise, the omission of Dejan Lovren from the squad should serve as a warning that such muscle injuries aren’t always easy to shake off. Should Gini suffer a similar fate, Liverpool will need to have players waiting in the wings to ensure their title bid doesn’t lose momentum.
Two players who will need to step up in the coming weeks are Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, both of whom have flexed their muscles in recent games to prove that while the personnel may change, the end result remains eerily familiar.
While Watford would prove to be a much tougher opponent than their floundering league position would suggest, the latest display of Liverpool’s resilience proved enough to grant them their 16th win from 17 league games so far this term on Saturday.
If last weekend’s victory at the Vitality stadium was one of complete dominance and control, this was anything but as the Reds produced a far from a vintage performance, staggering towards the finish line, flattered by the individual brilliance of marksman Mohamed Salah.
Keita’s performances against Bournemouth and Red Bull Salzburg offered the first glimpses of the player Liverpool so desperately clamoured after in his days at Red Bull Leipzig, with the midfielder confidently gliding across the turf, looking for progressive passes wherever possible.
Scoring two goals in two games, the Guinean put in two of his best performances for the club, showcasing the influence he can exert in the attacking third. A goal and assist in the 3-0 win and a decisive opener in the Champions League were the highlights of impressive all-round displays, with Keita’s creative eye and energetic drive serving as an aid to the front-three.
What’s more, in both games he put in solid defensive work, acting as an aggressive and assertive anchor by chipping in with timely interceptions and picking up loose balls to set the Reds on the front.
Seldom able to showcase the type of performances that become so customary during his time in the Bundesliga, two strong performances on the bounce have offered an insight into what he is capable of producing in Liverpool Red and a suitable platform from which he must kick-on should Klopp continue to entrust him in the coming weeks.
Likewise, Oxlade-Chamberlain offers a considerable option for Klopp to fall back on in the coming weeks, with the England international knocking on the door of the first team with five goals in 18 games so far.
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