Youth Likely to Take a Backseat Under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in 2016/17

Liverpool eased past Championship side Burton Albion in the second round of the League Cup, taking away a 5-0 victory from the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday night.

The goals arrived from Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino inside the first 22 minutes. A Tom Naylor own goal made it three after half-time before substitute Daniel Sturridge added two more late on to provide the icing on the cake for Jurgen Klopp’s side.

It was the ideal response after the disappointment of the 2-0 defeat at Burnley four days earlier in the Premier League.

There were plenty of positives for Liverpool’s supporters to take from the game, not least man of the match Sadio Mane’s performance as he opened up the Burton defence time and again, showing the pace, trickery and direct dribbling that the Reds have lacked in the last two seasons.

Mane returned to the lineup having missed the trip to Turf Moor with a shoulder injury, thankfully an injury that didn’t prove as serious as first feared. Just three games into the season, and the Senegal international is already becoming the main man.

Joining Mane in the starting XI were a trio of players you’d expect to feature in Klopp’s strongest lineups this season: new signing Joel Matip, midfielder Emre Can and Origi—each making their first start of the season.

That quartet gave Liverpool a whole new look—far more composed, far more fluid in attack and far more balanced in midfield, particularly with Can able to play the holding role and Jordan Henderson his more natural box-to-box role.

Can is the fulcrum in Klopp’s side in 2016/17, the player designated to sit in midfield and mesh together the defence and attack. It’s a huge responsibility for the 22-year-old German, who hasn’t really played such a role consistently before.

Whenever deployed in midfield for Liverpool previously, Can has been in a two-man midfield within a 4-2-3-1 shape. The change to 4-3-3 this season is one that relies on him adapting to the role—and staying fit for the full campaign.

When Can pulled up with an ankle injury around 70 minutes, it was a heart-in-the-mouth moment for Liverpool. Having failed to address the need for a defensive midfielder who can play either alongside or instead of Can this summer, Klopp’s plans are vulnerable to such injuries.

The manager explained post-match it was the same ankle Can had an injury in at the end of last season but hoped it was not that serious. Losing Can would set Klopp’s plans back, having already changed tack with no left-back acquired and Mamadou Sakho being …

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