Liverpool showed their depth in attack again as they beat Leicester in the Carabao Cup, which could now be higher on Jürgen Klopp’s priorities, all thanks to Newcastle.
The Reds have an embarrassment of riches in forward options. There are just a handful of clubs that can call upon the options that Jürgen Klopp has at his disposal.
In recent games though, it has appeared that the Reds boss has fallen upon a favored front three.
Mohamed Salah is a given, with the Egyptian in a class of his own as a left-winger. Luis Díaz has also proven a constant threat on the right since his move from Porto, and the Colombian was greatly missed during his prolonged injury absence last season.
The biggest question mark has come from who claims the position in the middle. In Darwin Núñez, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota, Liverpool have three superb options, but it is the Uruguayan who appears to be the first choice at the moment amid an upturn in form.
It’s a change from the end of last season, when Gakpo was very much the favorite as he looked to be the perfect successor to Roberto Firmino, with his work off the ball getting him into Klopp’s good books as much as his goals.
His versatility though was perhaps to his detriment in pre-season, with Klopp utilizing him as a number eight during the summer and the opening couple of games as the club continued their search for midfielders.
That time spent away from the number nine role perhaps didn’t do him any favors, and allowed Núñez to overtake him in the pecking order. But against Leicester in the Carabao Cup, there was a clear reminder to his manager of Gakpo’s quality.
The Dutchman’s turn and shot for Liverpool’s equalizer in the 3-1 win showed the composure of some of the game’s greatest strikers, while he was unlucky not to add to his tally as he was twice denied by goal-line clearances. What’s more, his pressing and harrying of the Leicester defenders displayed the exact qualities Klopp wants from his forwards.
And he was joined on the scoresheet by Jota, with both forwards taking their chance to stake their own claims in the side, and demonstrate the depth of quality Liverpool have right now.
That could very well be the key to the Reds getting back on the horse and collecting silverware again this season. With Manchester City eliminated by Newcastle, the competition suddenly opens up, and it would be a brave man who bets against Liverpool going all the way.
The Carabao Cup would have been low down on the list of Klopp’s priorities this season, but City’s early exit might just change his thinking somewhat.
