Liverpool must make Dubai break count as injury crisis tests title mentality

If Liverpool’s failure to clear the first hurdle in both domestic cup competitions this season is truly a filip to their title credentials, then they must make weeks like this count.

In the absence of League or FA Cup fixtures, the Reds’ schedule shows an 11-day break between that topsy turvy win over Crystal Palace and their next outing - a Premier League meeting with Leicester City at Anfield.

During that time, title rivals Manchester City will contest three games, taking on Burton Albion, Burnley, and Newcastle United.

Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp and co will be readying themselves for the run-in at a warm-weather training camp in Dubai.

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As the German pointed out in his post-match press conference on Saturday, his players will need every day of their brief hiatus simply to recover.

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He said: “It is a break in that period. If I would imagine Millie out and Fabinho for sure a doubt it would’ve been a massive challenge if we would play on Wednesday or Saturday again.

“I have no idea how that would’ve worked – we couldn’t do that, honestly.

“It will be now two days of recovery for the boys with the most minutes and the others train of course, and then we start the preparation for the Leicester game, which is another tough task.”

Klopp isn’t wrong; Liverpool’s injury problems have begun to mount of late.

Trent Alexander-Arnold remains sidelined by a knee issue, while Joe Gomez is not expected back until next month as he recovers from a broken leg sustained against Burnley in December.

And, although Georginio Wijnaldum is expected to return for that fixture, it could well be in the absence of another midfielder in Fabinho.

The Brazilian is being assessed by the club’s medical staff following his late withdrawal against Palace, which was enforced as a result of either cramp or a hamstring issue, according to Klopp.

Liverpool can ill afford a serious case of the latter, particularly when Fabinho’s ability to play right-back is considered.

With Alexander-Arnold and Gomez likely to miss the Leicester game and James Milner guaranteed to be absent through suspension, options on the right-hand side of defence are thinning.

But if Klopp’s post-match comments are anything to go by, he is already considering deploying academy graduate Rafa Camacho there after his late cameo against Palace.

He said: "We have to come through this situation. Tell me a player who can play right-back and other positions as well better than our boys like Rafa can do?"

If that is to be the case, then this week represents a valuable opportunity to prepare the 18-year-old to take his place in a defence that must stop the likes of Jamie Vardy, Demarai Gray and James Maddison next Wednesday.

And should Camacho succeed sufficiently to help Liverpool keep their title push on track against the Foxes, any lingering questions over the value of those early cup exits will have been answered.