WITH one foot in the Champions League final and another firmly in the Premier League’s top four, Jurgen Klopp doesn’t have too much to worry about, right now.
However, quietly, the German boss is suffering a midfield injury crisis.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 5-2 demolition of Roma midweek, ruling him out of this summer’s World Cup.
Ox joined Emre Can and Adam Lallana on the Melwood treatment table, while fellow central midfielders Marko Grujic, Ovie Ejaria and Pedro Chirivella are all out on loan.
That leaves just James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum and Jordan Henderson fit to start in Liverpool‘s three central midfield spots
So who could Klopp turn to to plug a gaping hole in the middle of the park?
We take a look below at five youngsters who could do just that…
CURTIS JONES
LIVERPOOL have high hopes for the central midfielder… even tipping him to become the next Steven Gerrard.
Jones, 17, has big hair and even bigger potential – and having joined the club at the Under-9s level, he has Liverpool blood seeping through his veins.
The youngster even works under Stevie G in the youth team having signed his first professional contract in February this year.
CURT’S ANGLE Liverpool wonderkid Curtis Jones is the ‘next Steven Gerrard’ with big hair and even bigger potential
Former Under-23s manager Michael Beale described Jones as a player “who can outplay you one-on-one, can play centre midfield, play wide and as a deep midfielder”.
Jones was an unused sub for the recent 0-0 Merseyside derby… and will hope to get out on the pitch against Stoke this weekend.
RAFAEL CAMACHO
ANOTHER star to be named on the bench for that Everton stalemate is Camacho.
The 17-year-old was lured away from Manchester City two years ago and has gone on to become a versatile star for the Liverpool Under-23s and youth team.
Originally a winger, Camacho has begun to thrive as part of a central midfield three.
The Portuguese star’s stunning strike – cutting in from the right and unleashing a left-footed strike – against Manchester United in the Uefa Youth league win is sign enough of his massive potential.
But whether Klopp would risk adding another attack-minded star to his already hyper-offensive team remains to be seen.
HERBIE KANE
ANOTHER home-grown Kane, another future England star? Liverpool certainly hope so.
Kane, 19, is already a regular in the Reds’ Under-23s, frequently captaining the side, to boot.
Not the quickest or most agile player, the youngster relies on his incredible football brain and passing ability to thrive.
Alongside the dynamic Henderson – and with Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino ahead of him – Kane could be the perfect fit in the Liverpool midfield.
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JORDAN WILLIAMS
WILLIAMS actually made his Liverpool first-team debut nearly four years ago, in a League Cup penalty shootout win over Middlesbrough.
Since then, his progress has been slow, but now – aged 22 – the Welsh star will be hoping to thrive in his more defensive role.
At 6ft tall and with more experience under his belt than most Under-23s stars, Williams could hold down the fort, allowing Henderson and Milner to push forward.
However, this season may come a little too soon for Williams, as the Reds have favoured the aforementioned stars to him.
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD
BY now a household name… and rightly so.
Alexander-Arnold has been arguably Liverpool’s best player outside of the front three and put on a real show in both Champions League quarter-final games against Manchester City.
While he has shone as a full-back, the future England star certainly has the ability to shift into the heart of midfield.
His ability to defend is superb, but he is calm and collected on the ball, has a great range of passing and has a fantastic right foot on him, too.
With Nathaniel Clyne recently returning from injury and Joe Gomez playing well at right-back, Liverpool could easily nudge Trent forward a position and be just as good, if not better.
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